Surname Hedin - Meaning and Origin
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Hedin: What does the surname Hedin mean?
The last name Hedin originates from Scandinavia, specifically Sweden. The term was originally used as a patronymic surname, meaning 'son of Hedin', derived from an old Scandinavian personal name meaning “warrior”. It's believed that the name is derived from a combination of the Old Norse elements "hes", meaning "to fight", and "vin", meaning "friend".
It's believed that the first Hedin clans may have been warriors in the Middle Ages who made a name for themselves through their strength and prowess in battle. The family was likely part of Viking raids and other battles that were prevalent in the region. Over time, more and more families adopted the last name Hedin.
Today, someone with the last name of Hedin is likely of Swedish or Scandinavian heritage. It is a common last name in the region and is most frequently used as a middle name for boys.
It is also believed that someone with the last name of Hedin would have a natural inclination towards positive traits such as honesty, loyalty, passion, and commitment. These traits can be attributed to the strong and warrior-like characteristics associated with the original Hedin clans.
Order DNA origin analysisHedin: Where does the name Hedin come from?
The last name Hedin is most commonly found today in Sweden. In fact, a 2014 survey of the most common Swedish surnames listed Hedin as the 24th most frequent name in the entire country. The name is thought to stem from the Old Norse name Heiddinn, which was a name used in the Nordic countries during the Middle Ages. It could either have referred to someone who lived on a hill, or in a heath, or someone with a strong or fierce personality.
The name has since spread beyond the Nordic countries, and is now found throughout Europe and beyond. In the USA, for example, Hedin is the 5,082nd most common surname and is found particularly in the Midwest region. It is also found in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Hedin is also an uncommon first name in many areas, and its use as a female given name is most common in Scandinavia. The highest number of people with this name in the world could be found in 2019 in Sweden, with an estimated 10,377 people with the Hedin surname.
Variations of the surname Hedin
The surname Hedin is derived from the Old Norse personal name Hedin, and it appears in various forms in Scandinavia as well as in other countries throughout Europe. In Sweden, it is spelled Hedin, while in Denmark and Norway it can be spelled Hedin. Other anglicized spellings include Heden, Hedden, Hiddin, and Hadden.
The surname has many associated variants: Hedeen, Hedain, Headin, Hedyn, Hedon, Hedden, Heddon, Heddin, Heddyn, Hidin, Hiedin, Hiedon, Hiedyn, Hyedin and Hyddin.
Hedin is also a popular surname in Finland, where it is spelled Heikkinen. It is the most common surname in Finland and is derived from the first name Heikki. This spelling of Hedin is also found in some parts of North America, especially in areas with a large Finnish population.
In Estonia, Hedin is spelled Haidin. It is believed that this variant originated during the Middle Ages when Estonians adopted the old Swedish or Finnish name Hedin and changed it into Haidin.
The surname Hedin is also found in Russia and Ukraine, where it is spelled Gediminas. This spelling dates back to the 14th century when the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas, adopted the name as his own.
Finally, there are many other spellings of the surname Hedin, including Haden, Haiden, Hadon, Hadyn, Haydn and Heden.
Famous people with the name Hedin
- Jonathan Hedin, Swedish singer and songwriter
- Hjalmar Hedin, Swedish polar explorer and geographer
- Ernst Hedin, Swedish explorer, geographer, and cartographer
- Viktor Hedin, Swedish politician and diplomat
- Ezra Hedin, American silent movie actor
- Oskar Hedin, Swedish geologist and geographer
- Neils Hedin, Swedish-born American historian
- Olaf Hedin, Swedish key figure in temperance movement
- Sven Hedin, Swedish explorer, writer and photographer
- Ethan Hedin, American professional snowboarder