Surname Hanslick - Meaning and Origin
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Hanslick: What does the surname Hanslick mean?
The last name Hanslick is of German origin. It is derived from the 'Hans' prefix, which means 'God is gracious', combined with 'lick', which denotes someone from a location named 'Lick'. This could refer to a village in the region of Franconia, which is now part of Bavaria, Germany.
Throughout German history, the name has been associated with renowned writers, poets, and musicians. The most famous Hanslick is Eduard Hanslick, who is widely considered to be one of the preeminent music critics of the 19th century. Hanslick wrote widely acclaimed works such as Vom Musikalisch-Schönen, which is a seminal work on musical aesthetics. He is also famous for his contributions to the theories of musical Romanticism and Classicism.
The name Hanslick is still fairly common throughout Germany today. People bearing it often take pride in their family’s long and rich cultural heritage, which lends the surname a certain cultural prestige. The name belongs to an esteemed group of well-known historical figures from German history, such as Goethe and Beethoven, and is associated with high quality music and literature.
Order DNA origin analysisHanslick: Where does the name Hanslick come from?
The last name Hanslick is most commonly found in Austria, Slovakia, and other countries of Central Europe. The surname is thought to have originated with a prominent Jewish family from Vienna in the late 19th century, although the exact etymology of the name is unknown. The Hanslick name has become more dispersed in recent generations, with the name now found in countries throughout Europe, North and South America, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Along with a widespread geographical dispersal, the name is also held by people of various ethnic backgrounds. For instance, the famous German-American novelist and playwright Sarah Hanslick identifies as German-Jewish. In addition, there are some African-Americans with the surname, one of whom, Chauncey Hanslick, was a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1950s and 1960s.
Beyond the geographic and ethnic diversity of the name’s holders, the Hanslick surname is also linked to numerous branches of academia, business, and the arts. Trustee Emeritus Thomas E. Hanslick, for instance, is a graduate of Princeton University and a former partner in the venture capital firm of Mayfield Funds. Meanwhile, the late Austrian philosopher and art critic Eduard Hanslick, grandson of the family’s founder, was one of the most renowned lecturers in Vienna during the 19th century.
Despite their varieties of backgrounds, many of those with the Hanslick surname have found success in their respective professional and cultural fields today, allowing the family’s legacy to persist well into modern times.
Variations of the surname Hanslick
The surname Hanslick is of German origin, and can variously be spelled as Hanslik, Hanslick, Hanselik, and Hanslek. Variant surnames include Hanselick, Hanslijk, and Hanslik. The variant "Hanselik" is a German spelling of the surname that includes the diminutive suffix "-lik," that is, a suffix that conveys the sense of "little."
The surname is derived from the Christian name "Hans," which is derived from the Hebrew name "John." "John" derives from two Hebrew words -- "Yochanan" and "Chanan," which mean “Yahweh is gracious” and “He (God) has favored.”
Hanslick, Hanslik, Hanselik, and Hanslek can also be a Polish variant of the Czech surname Hanslik, which is derived from the first name of Honza. This name is derived from the Old High German “Hunzo” and means “heart.” Another Polish variant of the surname is Hanselik.
The variants of the surname Hanslick can also be found among German-speaking Jews. For example, the Gustav Hanslick family was of Jewish origin, although they adopted the Christian faith and German culture. The Jewish variant of the surname is Hanselik.
Hanslick is also a variant of the German and Swiss-German surname Handelik, which is derived from a speaking of a form of the surname "Händel," or "hand," and which can mean either "merchant" or "workman's hand.”
In a further adoption of the surname by English-speaking people, Hanslik is an American ized variant of Hanslick.
In conclusion, there are multiple variants of the surname Hanslick, including Hanslik, Hanslick, Hanselik, Hanslek, Hanselick, Hanslijk, Hanselik, and Hanslik.
Famous people with the name Hanslick
- Eduard Hanslick (1825–1904): Music critic and composer. He wrote a book on musical aesthetics which established him as one of the leading philosophic foundations of modern music.
- Eva Hanslick (1852–1938): By marriage, she became the wife of Eduard Hanslick, a prominent music critic. She went on to become a noted musical composer in her own right.
- Julius Richard Hanslick (1839–1914): German born historian and philosopher. His works included studies of the history of art and the philosophy of art.
- Joseph Hanslick (1843–1907): German-born physicist who made important contributions to relativity theory and gravitation.
- August Hanslick (1811–1849): Austrian music critic. His works include books on theory, style, and form in music.
- Johannes Hanslick (1850–1933): Austrian musicologist and composer. He wrote on numerous topics including aesthetics and music theory.
- Ferdinand Hanslick (1833–1915): Musician and music theorist. His works include several works on musical analysis, harmony, and history.
- Elisabeth Hanslick (1869–1938): By marriage, she became the wife of Johannes Hanslick, a prominent musicologist. She also wrote books about Chopin and the 1910 Concerts in Vienna.
- Karl Hanslick (1877–1956): Austrian-born politician who held office in the Imperial Council in Vienna and the Jewish Community of Vienna.
- Johann Hanslick (1785–1864): German-born organist, composer, and music theorist. His works include books on musical theory and aesthetics.