Surname Held - Meaning and Origin
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A Deep Dive into the Held Surname: Unraveling Ancestry through iGENEA’s DNA Test
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X. Held
read moreHeld: What does the surname Held mean?
The last name Held is most likely of German origin. It is derived from the Old German word "held", meaning "hero" or "leader". It can be found in records as early as the 14th century, when it was used as a title commonly given to knights and other members of the ruling class.
In modern times, the name Held is still a meaningful and popular surname. It is commonly found in families descended from German ancestry, as well as from people of Jewish origins who sometimes adopted it as a surname during times of persecution in Europe.
The meaning of the last name Held is most often associated with strength, leadership and bravery. It is a reminder of one’s ancestors and the courage and strength they showed in times of adversity. The name Held is still an important and meaningful name to many families today, and is often chosen by proud parents for their children.
The name Held is a reminder that bravery and leadership are part of one’s past, and should be honored and respected. Not only is it an indicator of a person's ancestry, but is also a reminder of the courage of those who came before us, and a testament to the strength and resolve of those who have worked and continue to work to make the world a better place.
Order DNA origin analysisHeld: Where does the name Held come from?
The last name Held is quite common throughout Europe and particularly in Germany. It is thought to have originated from the Middle High German word ‘helt’, which means ‘hero’ or ‘progenitor’. The Held name is also found in the United States, due to migrations of German immigrants in the early 19th century.
In Germany, there are currently around 13,000 people with the last name Held. This is mainly concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Swabia, Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, and Hesse.
In the United States, the last name Held is still quite common. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that in 2019 there were approximately 28,482 people with the last name Held in the United States. A large number of people with the Held name are concentrated in states like New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
The Held surname can also be found in other countries throughout Europe, such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is also common in Canada and Australia.
Overall, the Held name is quite common today. This is because it has spread throughout much of the world through German migration and the globalization of the surname over time.
Variations of the surname Held
The surname Held is a common German name and also has common variations in spelling, as well as related surnames of similar origin. The most common spelling is Held, but, depending on the origin, there may be dialectical forms, as is the case in some areas of Germany and Austria, in which the spelling may appear as Helde, Heild, Heilf, Heilt, Heldt, Heildt, Heilft.
In some countries, particularlyes in many Ashkenazi Jewish regions, the spelling may differ and appear as Heil, Heilb, Heldl, Heyld, Heildes, or Heyles. Since the surname Held is so common in Germany, variants have appeared in other countries due to emigration. Variations may be found in the United States and Brazil appearing as Helid, Heled, Heldes, Heill, Heilg, or Heyl. In the UK, ancient spellings may appear as Helde or Helle.
There may also be a number of surnames related to Held, such as Helder, Helderman, Heldring, Heldmann, Helde, and Holtz. Each of these names are all of German origin, though the use of the word "Helt" could have also spawned some forms of the last name with slightly different spellings in many countries.
In conclusion, as is common with many German surnames, Held has numerous variants and surnames of slightly different spelling and origins. Some, such as those appearing in American records, may be due to the standardized spelling of non-English speaking immigrants, while others may be due to dialects or other language influences.
Famous people with the name Held
- David Held: Award-winning British political scientist
- Jonathan Held: American composer and pianist
- Stephen Held: Producer of the movie Tannhäuser
- Joanna Held: Playwright and actor
- Franz Held: Austrian sculptor
- Josef Held: German Expressionist draughtsman
- Peter Held: Austrian composer and musicologist
- Julius Held: Renowned German/American art historian
- Gunter Held: Austrian actor
- Tatjana Held: German actress
- Bill Held: San Francisco-based filmmaker
- Ernst Held: German botanist
- Willi Held: Austrian fashion photographer
- Charles Held: American animator
- Rupert Held: New York-based musician
- Charles-Marie Held: French Occitan poet