Surname Harttung - Meaning and Origin
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Harttung: What does the surname Harttung mean?
The last name Harttung is a German surname from the Middle Ages. The root of the word comes from the German elements Hart, meaning “hard” and Tung, meaning “clan” or “family.” This suggests that those who originally bore the last name Harttung were members of a hard-working family who demonstrated strong loyalty and resilience.
The surname Harttung is likely geographically associated with the former city of Hartungen, which was located in what is now known as Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. This city was named after members of the Harttungen family, as the city was first mentioned in documents from 1274 that list one of Harttungen’s sons as the local magistrate.
The Harttungen family would go on to play an important role in the city’s history and development. The family established numerous schools, churches, and other businesses, such as the iron mill, which generated jobs and helped bring prosperity to the area.
In the present day, the surname Harttung will often be found among individuals from German and Eastern European descent. The Harttungen family continues to be recognized today for their strong contributions to the city of Hartungen and for their dedication to hard work and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisHarttung: Where does the name Harttung come from?
The Harttung surname is most common today in central Europe, particularly Germany. Specifically, the largest concentrations of Harttungs are in the provinces of Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia in Germany. That said, Harttungs can be found spread across many countries, from the Austria and Hungary in the west to Finland and Estonia in the east.
The origin of the name Harttung is believed to refer to a family who lived near a hard or oak tree, as hart comes from the Old German term for “hard” or “tough” and tung derives from the Old German term for “tree”. The Harttungs were originally a powerful family of particular importance in Prussian regions long ago, and as their influence expanded their name spread further across Europe.
In the present day, Harttungs continue to be found in countries across Europe. In Germany, Harttung is the 715th most common name, widely spread across the country. This can also be seen in Austria, where Harttung is the 884th most popular surname. Additionally, the name is commonly found in countries neighbouring Germany, such as Hungary and Poland. Furthermore, in the recent years, Harttungs have migrated to other countries in Western Europe, including Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Harttung
Harttung is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word “harting”, which means “hardness” or “power”. The surname is most commonly seen in the form Harttung, although there are a range of other variant spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variant spellings for Harttung include Harting, Hartung, Harttner, Hartzman, Hartzmann, Hardung, Harding, Hertting, Herttung, Hertzman, Herding, Herdung and Herdinger. The Americanized version is Hartting.
The surnames Harder, Hartmann, Harter, Harder, Hartle, Hartel and Hartleben all derive from the Middle High German root “harting” and are variations of the original Harttung surname. Other variants include Harlen, Harlinger and Herlinger.
In the United Kingdom, the Harttung surname is also known as the Hartung surname. The Scottish version of the name is Herzberg, meaning “mountain of strength”.
Some of the variants of the surname are also found in other countries with German speaking populations, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Germany itself, which are sometimes adapted into local languages, such as Harteen in Austria or Hartin in Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Harttung
- Christian Harttung: German photographer and artist who travelled around Europe in the late 19th century, best known for his books chronicling his journeys.
- Tony Harttung: Contemporary Australian artist known for his vibrant avant-garde style, which incorporates elements from collage art and cubism.
- Johann Harttung: Danish architect of the 17th century, famous for his designs of some of the most exquisite Baroque houses in northern Germany.
- Arnold Harttung: German-born industrialist and philanthropist who was active in the 19th century. He donated large sums of money towards the promotion of education and the arts in his adopted city of Hamburg.
- Robert Harttung: Late 18th century German historian and Bible scholar, remembered primarily for his research into pre-modern societies and their social structures.
- Gerhard Harttung: Early 20th century German politician and lawyer. He served in various capacities throughout the WeimarRepublic and Nazi Germany, most notably as a state secretary and Minister of the Interior.
- Rico Harttung: German film and television actor best known for his comedic roles in such films as 'Lottoschein Yougend' (2011) and 'Mein Flirt' (2015).
- Peter Harttung: Danish-born music producer, songwriter and composer. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Björk, Oasis, U2, and the Spice Girls.
- Martin Harttung: Danish sculptor of the 19th century, known primarily for his realistic marble statues and memorials.
- Wilhelm Harttung: German theologian and church historian, remembered for his research into the history of Reformation and Counter-Reformation in early modern Europe.