Surname Herholz - Meaning and Origin
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Herholz: What does the surname Herholz mean?
The last name Herholz is a German surname derived from the Middle High German terms her and holz, or “army” and “wood” respectively. Historically, Herholz was often used as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a forest or woods. It could also be used as an occupational surname for a woodcutter.
The surname Herholz is fairly common in Germany, where the name is most prominently found. It is believed that the origin of the name Herholz dates back to the Middle Ages where members of nobility owned much of the land, and those who lived on their land worked out of the forest by cutting wood. Since the Herholz surname is derived from this occupational activity, it is possible that these individuals were originally related to a noble family.
The surname Herholz is also found in various regions in Europe, such as Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark. Additionally, the surname is found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as many German people immigrated to these countries in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Within Germany, the highest concentration of people with the surname Herholz is mainly located in the eastern regions of the country. This is due to the fact that the areas were once German tribes located near lakes and forests, and the Herholz name was also used as a reference to this region.
Today, the name Herholz is still a very common German surname and continues to be passed down from generation to generation. It is likely that it will remain one of the most popular surnames for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisHerholz: Where does the name Herholz come from?
Herholz is a surname of German origin, and is still present in many parts of Germany today. It can be found most commonly in the states of Saxony, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. However, many people with the surname Herholz have emigrated around the world due to wars, persecution, and economic reasons, so it's not uncommon to find this surname scattered all over the globe.
In the United States, this surname is concentrated in the states of California, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, with many Herholz descendants tracing their ancestry to the German-speaking Mennonites who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1700s. It is also common in Canada, especially in large cities like Toronto and Vancouver, where many German immigrants made their home over the last few centuries.
This German-origin surname is also spread throughout the rest of Europe, from Sweden and Denmark to the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Aside from countries of European origin, Herholz has also been modernized in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Chile.
In general, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname Herholz varies depending on the country and language spoken, sometimes even by the same family. Common variations include Herhold, Herholdt, Herolds, Herwald, and Harholz.
Variations of the surname Herholz
The origin of the surname Herholz is German and it is derived from a nickname that was used to refer to someone who was a woodsman, or a manufacturer of bows and arrows. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Herrholz, Herhoelz, Herholtz, Herholt, Herholts, Hercholtz, and Hercholt.
The most common spelling of Herholz is Herrholz. This version of the surname could be found mostly in northwestern Germany, mainly in the federal states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. The other spellings of this surname are Herhoelz, Herholtz, Herholt, Herholts, Hercholtz, and Hercholt. These variations could be found mostly in southern Germany, mainly in the federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Herrholz is derived from the Old High German words “her”, which means army, and “holz”, which means wood. The literal translation of this surname would be “army of wood”, which is associated with the manufacturing of bows and arrows.
Herholz is also considered a patronymic surname, which is a surname derived from the first name of a parent. This type of surname is typically formed with a combination of the father’s first name and a suffix, such as -son, -sen, or -sz. In this case, the father’s surname would have been Hirzel or Hertel, with the son taking on the name Herhoelz, Herholtz, Herholt, Herholts, Hercholtz, or Hercholt as a way to differentiate themselves.
Famous people with the name Herholz
- Michael Herholz: former leader of the German political party "Freie Demokratische Partei".
- Wilhelm Herholz: German lawyer, politician and member of the Bavarian Constitutional Assembly.
- Stephen Herholz: British actor, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter series.
- Erich Herholz: German chemist and inventor, the first to create a way to make an electric car.
- Paulus Herholz: German doctor and professor at the University of Münster, the author of multiple books and articles on medical history.
- Dieter Herholz: Austrian author and illustrator, known for his work on children's books.
- Alexandra Herholz: German actress and television presenter, known for her hosting of the ZDF family game show "Familien Duell".
- Harald Herholz: Austrian historian and author, specializing in Central and Eastern European history.
- Martin Herholz: German artist, known for his realistic and expressive drawings and oil paintings.
- Fernanda Herholz: Brazilian-German sculptor, best known for her figurative sculptures.