Surname Heit - Meaning and Origin
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Heit: What does the surname Heit mean?
Heit is a German surname which translates to "height" or "tall." This name originates from the Middle Ages, when ownership of tall towers was a sign of prestige and power. The Heit surname is believed to have derived from a house name or the name of a town built on a high point. This name may have also been adopted as a nickname for a tall person or family.
Heit is found most commonly in German speaking regions such as Bavaria, Austria and Prussia. It is also found in Dutch speaking areas of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg and some parts of Scandinavia. In modern times, this surname is found in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.
The coat of arms for the Heit family is believed to have been a shield, with a golden diagonal stripe and a white vertical line. Above the shield was a helmed knight, carrying a silver sword and green shield.
The Heit crest stands to represent courage, honor and loyalty. This is in line with the values held by many of those that bear this surname, emphasizing the importance of standing out from the crowd. Heit’s can often be found at the forefront of change, embracing new ideas and finding strength in their own conviction.
Order DNA origin analysisHeit: Where does the name Heit come from?
The last name Heit is commonly found throughout Northern Europe and the United States. It is most prevalent in Germany, where around 500,000 people have it as a surname. It is also present in countries such as the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia; in the United States, it is primarily found in Wisconsin, Texas, and Washington.
Heit is believed to be derived from a German word, "hait," meaning 'cultural enclosure,' and it likely originated from a location where someone of that surname resided. The first recorded mention of it dates back to 1302 when a priest called Johannes de Heit was mentioned. In terms of the United States, some of the earliest known bearers of the name were John Heit–born somewhere around 1720–and Christian Heit–born in 1744.
Many other countries have variations of the last name including 'Haight' in England, 'Haillot' in France, 'Hegedus' in Hungary, and 'Hoyt' in the USA. Though the Heit surname can be found across the world today, it is still most frequent in northern Europe and its development and evolution can be traced back to its origins in Germany in the 13th century.
Variations of the surname Heit
The surname Heit is of German origin and it is believed to have derived from the German language word 'Hütte', meaning hut, and as such is believed to have originally been an occupational name for someone who was a hut keeper or metal worker.
There are various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Heit, including Heyt, Hite, Hyt, Hytt, Heytt, Heitt and Heeht. Other variations of the name include Heght, Heicht, Heichtmann, Hechtmulty, Heyttmann and Heut.
In the U.S., the most commonly encountered variants are Heyt, Hite, Hyt, Heytt and Hecht.
The variations and spellings of Heit are historically associated with Germany throughout Europe. In the 19th century, the descendants of this family dispersed throughout Germany and Central Europe.
In the United States, the name has been anglicised to change the spelling to the more Americanized spelling of Heit.
In England, Heit tends to appear in its original spelling, while in Scotland it might appear as Hyt or Hytt.
The Heytt variations of Heit are also common in Holland, as well as the spelling Heichtmann.
The Heit surname is often found in Jewish records, and was also adopted as a surname by some Jewish families. The surnames Hechtman, Heyttman, Heichtman and Heut are associated with Jewish families.
In addition to its German roots, the Heit surname also has French origins, where it is spelled as Heut or Heet.
Famous people with the name Heit
- Natalie Heit, a German actress.
- Keith Heit, a former Canadian ice hockey player.
- Rainer Heit, an Austrian footballer.
- picture alliance, a German photographer and artist.
- Kenneth Heit, an American sprint kayaker.
- Julius Heit, a German football club manager.
- Friedrich Heit, a 19th century music publisher, composer and organist.
- Jan Heit, a German basketball executive representative for the German league.
- Reiner Heit, a German designer who has designed jewellery.
- Christian Heit, a German event photographer and creative media officer.