Surname Hegenscheid - Meaning and Origin

Hegenscheid: What does the surname Hegenscheid mean?

The surname Hegenscheid is of German origin, and is quite unusual in the English-speaking countries. The meaning of this surname is derived from the words "hege," which means "hedge" or "fence," and "scheid," which means "separation" or "boundary." It is likely that those with this surname originally belonged to the same family or related families who had their own separate area of land (such as a parcel enclosed by a fence, hedge, or other similar boundary) within a larger, shared area of lands.

This surname is found mostly in Germany, especially around the Lower Rhine area. It is also found in Dutch-speaking countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, and some parts of the United States and Canada. Some family members of this surname have also immigrated to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil.

The first Hegenscheid known to have immigrated to the United States was Johann Hegenscheid, who arrived in Maryland in 1729. Some of his descendants are still in the United States, and some others have moved to Canada and beyond.

A coat of arms was created for those with the Hegenscheid surname, featuring a gold eagle on a blue field with wings outstretched. It is believed that the eagle is meant to symbolize power, and the blue field twice-crossed symbolizes the family's connection to the area of their origin.

The Hegenscheid surname is an interesting and unique one, with a nearly three hundred year long history and ties to countries all over the world. Although it may not be the most common surname, it is an important part of family history.

Hegenscheid: Where does the name Hegenscheid come from?

The last name Hegenscheid is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It is a relatively uncommon last name, ranking only 6,784 on nameberry.com, the world's largest database of given names.

Within Germany, Hegenscheid is most prevalent in the western region, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, where it is the 959th most common surname. Other German states with higher concentrations of Hegenscheid families are Berlin, Bavaria, and Baden-Wurttemberg.

Outside of Germany, Hegenscheid is less popular. While it is difficult to measure exact frequencies, nameberry.com data indicates that Hegenscheid is the least popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The last name is also comparatively uncommon in other Western & Northern European countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The rarity of this name suggests that many Hegenscheid families throughout history have not spread out of German-speaking Europe. While moments of migration may have occurred in some cases, it is likely that most Hegenscheids living in Germany today are the direct descendants of people who lived there centuries ago.

Variations of the surname Hegenscheid

The surname Hegenscheid is derived from the Middle and Old High German words “heg”, meaning hedge, and “scheit” meaning enclosure. It is commonly found throughout Germany and the Dutch speaking regions such as the Netherlands and Belgium.

Common variants of this surname include Heggenschied, Hegensheid, Hegenscheit and Hegenschied.

In the Netherlands, the spelling of the surname is often altered to resemble a Dutch-sounding name, including Heggensciedt, Hegenscieden, Hegenscie, Haggenscied and Hagensciedt.

In the German-speaking regions of Europe, variations on the spelling of the surname are typically Hegenscheidt, Hegenscheid, Hagenscheit, Hagenscheit and Hagensheid.

Common variant spellings of the surname have been found in both the United States and Canada. Among those variant spellings are Hegensheid, Hegenscheit, Heggenschied, Haggenscied, Hagensciedt, Hegenscheidt and Hegenscheid. The name is also sometimes seen as Hegansheid or Hegginscied.

In addition, there are a variety of similar sounding surnames of different origins, including Hagensheid, Hegenshimer, Hegensheim and Haagenshiemer.

Famous people with the name Hegenscheid

• Philipp Hegenscheid: a German architect who designed several ecclesiastical and residential buildings in his native Germany.
• Ernst Ludwig Hegenscheid: a German author and publicist during the 19th century, who wrote several textbooks about geography, history, and literature.
• Joachim Hegenscheid: a pastor and theologian who was known for his works on Christian worship and liturgy.
• Karl Hegenscheid: a German painter and engraver in the 18th century, whose works can still be found in museums and galleries around Germany.
• Jakob Hegenscheid: a German writer, historian, and theologian who wrote extensively on Christian theology and philosophy.
• Lothar Hegenscheid: a German concert and church organist in the 18th century, who was renowned for his improvisations and compositions.
• Georg Hegenscheid: a German botanist who wrote extensively on the flora of Central Europe during the 19th century.
• Johann Heinrich Hegenscheid: a German doctor and professor of medicine who wrote extensively on medical health and diseases.
• Friedrich Hegenscheid: a German mathematician in the 18th century, who was known for his works on abstract algebra.
• Dietrich Hegenscheid: a German jurist in the 19th century who wrote several textbooks on legal theory.

Other surnames

Hegenscheidt