Surname Hendrichs - Meaning and Origin
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Hendrichs: What does the surname Hendrichs mean?
The surname Hendrichs is an occupational surname of German origin, derived from the stem ‘hans’ (meaning ‘ruler of the house’). The prefix ‘Hen’ refers to a person who worked as a herdsman, historically responsible for the protection and maintenance of animals. ‘Drichs’ is a variation of ‘dricht’, meaning ‘protect’. Therefore, together the words Hendrichs can be translated as ‘protector of the herd’.
Hendrichs has its roots in the Frankish settlement area of southern Germany, particularly in the south of the Rhineland-Palatinate region. The name was first recorded in 1387 in a document known as the ‘Güstrow Manuscripts’, and by the 19th century the name had spread throughout the German diaspora of Europe, particularly in the countries of the Netherlands and Denmark.
Today, modern descendants of the Hendrichs family can be found all over the world as immigrants from the 19th and 20th centuries, with large pockets located in Canada, the US, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
Regardless of where they reside, modern Hendrichs are all connected to the original form of the name and its 16th century protective, pastoral origins – a physical connection to the original settlers of the Rhineland region.
Order DNA origin analysisHendrichs: Where does the name Hendrichs come from?
The last name Hendrichs is most commonly found in Germany today, particularly in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg. This family name can also be found in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, and parts of Scandinavia. In the United States, it can be found in areas populated by German immigrants, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
This name's roots come from the Germanic personal name Henrich, which itself means "ruler of the household". The Hendrichs family can trace its lineage to the Middle Ages, and it is a relatively common name throughout Germany. It is thought that many of the Hendrichs families are related, as they all originated in a single region.
Hendrichs families are known for their strong work ethic, ingenuity, and strength of character. They are highly respected in the societies in which they live, and are instilled with a deep sense of community and family values. Their lasting presence throughout Europe and the United States demonstrates the fortitude and dedication of this family name.
Variations of the surname Hendrichs
Hendrichs is a common surname with many different variants, spelling variations, and surnames of the same origin. For example, the following variants of Hendrichs are often seen in records: Handrich, Handricks, Handrickson, Handrix, Henrich, Henrichs, Hendrich, Hendrick, Hendricks, Hendrickson, Hendrickx, Henricks, Henrickson, Henrychs, Henrycks, and Henryks.
A few alternate spellings or variations seen in research are Hendrick, Hendriks, Hendrix, Hendricks, Hendricx, Hendriksz, Hendrik, Henricx, Henricxz, Henriks, Henricks, Henriques, Heindricx, Handricx, and Handricxs.
Other surnames associated with Hendrichs are said to be derived from the same root and carry similar spelling variations. These include Hendrichsen, Endrich, Endricks, Endrics, Endrix, Endrixsen, Hendrichsen, Hendrixen, Hendrycks, Hendrycksen, Hendricxen, Hendricksen, Hendrickson, Hendrikszoon, Henricxen, Henrickxen, and Henrixen.
The origin of the name Hendrichs can be traced back to the pre-medieval Germanic tribes of Europe; its original form was Heinrich. This is why the surnames Henrich and Heinrich are common variants of Hendrichs in German-speaking countries. It comes from the German root word heim, a variation of heimat which means ‘home’ or ‘origin’.
The surnames from the above-mentioned list are all variations of the original surname Hendrichs and come from similar root words and are pronounced the same in different countries and dialects. Variations of Hendrichs can therefore be found all over the world.
Famous people with the name Hendrichs
- Mark Hendrichs, professional tennis player and coach
- Arthur Hendrichs, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Klas Hendrichs, German professional basketball player
- Henri Hendrichs, Belgian motorsports driver
- Rolf Hendrichs, German Democratic Republic football player
- Dirk Hendrichs, Dutch politician and member of the European Parliament
- Maurice Hendrichs, former Dutch professional footballer
- Robert Hendrichs, English professional footballer
- Thomas Hendrichs, Dutch professional football player
- Christian Hendrichs, German painter, sculptor and photographer