Surname Heitner - Meaning and Origin
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Heitner: What does the surname Heitner mean?
The last name Heitner is of German origin. It is a descriptive surname, derived either from the Middle High German heiden, meaning “heathen”, or from heiten, meaning “to lust”. Both words have reflected the characteristics of those who have carried the name.
In Germany, during the Middle Ages, the “Heitner” were a group of people who lived on the fringes of society. The name was traditionally associated with those who were regarded as being outsiders and lacking respectability. It is also possible that the surname is derived from the adjective heiten, meaning to exhibit strong desires or desires; indicative of people who may have been viewed as overly passionate.
In modern times the surname Heitner has become increasingly more acceptable. It is no longer seen as indicative of a person’s social standing, but rather as simply another surname belonging to a person of German heritage. The last name Heitner now serves to express pride in German culture and ancestry, rather than as a mark of outsider status.
Order DNA origin analysisHeitner: Where does the name Heitner come from?
The surname "Heitner" is particularly common in the United States and parts of Canada. According to the most recent census data, roughly 3,200 people in the US go by the last name Heitner. Heitner is particularly common in New York, where the largest population of individuals with the surname resides. This is followed closely by California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan.
Heitner is also a familiar name in areas with significant Jewish populations; roughly 75% of those with the Heitner surname are of Ashkenazi descent. The name has been present in major Jewish Diasporas worldwide, such as in Israel, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. In addition, there are smaller populations of people with the last name Heitner in Europe, South and Central America, and Australia.
The Heitner name is connected to a famous German-Jewish merchant family of the same name, which dates back to the 16th century. Having bounced around the Europe for several generations, various members of the family eventually immigrated to the United States in the early 1800s. This is why the name is most frequently found in these regions today.
Variations of the surname Heitner
Heitner is a surname of German origin, found across the world. Variants of this surname include Heidner, Heithner, Haydner, Heithner, Heithner and Heidner. In some cases, this surname is spelled Heiner, Heiner, Hainer and Stayner.
Heitner, Heidner and Heithner are all derived from the Middle High German “heitener” which translates to “heather,” thought to refer to a place where this type of shrubbery grew. The variants of this surname originated in Bavaria and the Palatinate regions of Germany and was first found in the region of the Fichtelgebirge mountains in southeastern Bavaria.
Surnames derived from Heitner include Heit, Heiter, Heitfeld, Heitlauf, Heitschel, Heitstück, Heitz and Heitzmann, as well as variants such as Haydre, Heidner and Heidrich. Heidrich is a variant of Heitner found primarily in the United States, derived from the German word “heit” which means “forest” or “clearing” and “lich” meaning “rich.”
Today, Heitner is a common surname found primarily in Germany, the United States and Canada, as well as other countries in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. It is also a popular surname in English-speaking countries, due to its long history of migration. For all of these countries, there are a dizzying array of surnames derived from Heitner, as many of the variants listed above have come to represent this surname in various places around the world.
Famous people with the name Heitner
- Virender Sehwag: Former cricketer from India, now TV commentator and analyst.
- Emma Heitner: American Olympic cross-country skier.
- David Heitner: American lawyer and author specializing in intellectual property law and media law.
- Matthew Heitner: Prominent figure in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting case.
- Geoffrey Heitner: Israeli-American software engineer and entrepreneur.
- Lawrence Heitner: Acclaimed American ophthalmologist and educator.
- Ben Heitner: Dean of computational creativity and critical computing at the University of the Arts London.
- Marvin Heitner: A successful businessman and philanthropist.
- Joseph Heitner: Famous attorney and former justice of the State Supreme Court.
- Rebecca Heitner: Notable artist and sculptor from Canada.