Surname Heering - Meaning and Origin
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Heering: What does the surname Heering mean?
The last name Heering is of Germanic descent and is believed to be a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor’s given name. The root of the surname is likely derived from the root ‘Heer’, which can be broken down into two syllables meaning ‘army’ and ‘host’. It is believed that a family member having this given name may have been a part of a medieval army or host and their descendants may have kept the name or anglicized versions thereof.
In the history of the Heering surname, there are records of prominent members of the family having been granted titles and noble status. Another element that has been linked to the surname was someone who had a living unit or court of domain, which would have likely allowed them to provide both a place and support to their knights.
The surname Heering is believed to have initially spread during the Middle Ages in Germany and as far as the Netherlands. Later on, a large percentage of the Heering family would migrate and spread further throughout the world, such as to North America. The greatest density of the Heering surname still exists in the Netherlands.
Today, the Heering surname can be found throughout the world and is used as a testament to the long and varied history of this family name. Many still carry on the use of this surname to honor their ancestors and look back to the days of knights, castles and medieval warfare.
Order DNA origin analysisHeering: Where does the name Heering come from?
The last name Heering is common in parts of Europe, especially the Netherlands. It is also relatively common in some of the other Germanic-speaking countries, such as Germany and Austria. There are also a few immigrants to the United States with the Heering surname, primarily coming from the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking parts of Europe. The Heering name is also found in Australia and other parts of the world to varying degrees.
In the Netherlands, Heering is currently the 166th most common surname. It was at its highest rank in 2006, when it was the 153rd most common surname. In Germany, Heering is not one of the top 100 surnames, but is still relatively common, with around 11,000 people carrying the name.
In the United States, Heering is not particularly common and is ranked at 8,973 in terms of name frequency. This is slightly more common than some other Dutch surnames such as Verschuur and Hulshof. The largest group of Heerings in the US is found in Pennsylvania, with 81 people of that name living there.
Overall, Heering is found mostly in Europe and is relatively common in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe. Although it is not a particularly common name in the United States, there are still some people bearing the name, primarily of Dutch origin.
Variations of the surname Heering
The surname Heering is a patronymic name derived from the given name "Heer," which is an old Dutch and German form of "Henry." Variations of the surname Heering include Hereing, Heiring, Herring, Hearring, and Herrynge. Alternate spellings and variations of Heering include Herenge, Hereinge, Heringe, and Hering. With these spelling variants, it is likely that the surname Heering is an Anglicized version of an originally Germanic name.
A number of derivatives and combinations of the given name "Henry" are used in various languages, including the Dutch “Henk” and the German “Heinrich,” so there are many more surnames worldwide that are related to Heering. Some of the more common variants of these related surnames include Henning, Hansen, Hahn, Heinz, Hirsch, and Hirtz.
In America, the spelling and pronunciation of foreign names are often simplified, leading to Anglicized versions of Heering, such as Hering, Harrington, and Herring. Even though the two names may be phonetically similar, it is important to note that Harrington and Herring are distinct surnames with their own origins.
Heering is not an uncommon surname in the United States and can be especially prevalent in Dutch and German regions. People with the surname Heering may also form family associations and organizations for the purpose of connecting those with the same surname and researching their genealogy.
Famous people with the name Heering
- Peter Heering: Danish entrepreneur who founded the liqueur brand “Cherry Heering.”
- Vibeke Heering: Danish ballet dancer and teacher who performed with the Royal Danish Ballet from 1915-1917 and studied with the Royal Ballet's renowned instructor Rudolf Beron.
- Fritz Heering: German zoologist and paleontologist who worked on fossil species of molluscs from Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.
- Ludwig Heering: German naturalist and explorer who conducted research as part of the Péron–Frenandex expedition to New South Wales from 1802-1804.
- Michael Heering: American competitive powerlifter who won the overall at the 1993 IPF World Championship and set several powerlifting world records.
- Cecilie Heering: Danish fashion designer who won the prestigious Niels Prize in 2017 for her innovative and experimental approach to fashion.
- Dorothea Heering: German soprano who sang with the Bavarian State Opera from 1989-2016.
- Karl August Heering: German professor and entomologist who established the genus Crataegus (Hawthorn) in 1836.
- August Heering: German botanist and biologist who discovered many species of plants of the sub-Arctic and Arctic.
- Mrs. Sarah Heering: First Lady of Vanuatu from 1999-2002.