Surname Hermes - Meaning and Origin
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Hermes: What does the surname Hermes mean?
The last name Hermes is derived from the Greek messenger god of the same name. In Greek mythology, Hermes was the god of boundaries, travel, communication, trade, language, thieves, and cunning. He was the messenger of the gods and escorted the souls of the dead into the afterlife. He is also credited as the inventor of the lyre, a stringed musical instrument.
The name Hermes is believed to have originated in the Minoan civilization in the second millennium BC. It was adopted by the Greeks and gradually replaced the names of the gods of the previous generation. The meaning of Hermes is thought to be derived from the root word "herma," which means boundary or marker. It is believed that the name was given to commemorate the setting up of land borders between neighboring countries or villages.
The name Hermes has become a global name, with many countries having their own version. In Portugal it is called “Aremes”, Germany has “Herme”, Estonia has “Hermeler”, while in Latin America it is “Ermes”. The name is also associated with readiness and energy, which is fitting for a god of speed.
The name Hermes is a reminder that all are connected and a reminder of the importance of communication, trade, boundaries, and language. Hermes is the god of boundaries and those who bear the name should strive to remind others of the importance and beauty of living within boundaries but also of the importance of connecting across them.
Order DNA origin analysisHermes: Where does the name Hermes come from?
The last name Hermes is most common today in Germany and other German-speaking countries. It is also found in parts of the Netherlands and France. In Germany, it is particularly prominent throughout the northwest, including Dortmund, Hamburg, Bremen and the Lower Saxony region. In other countries, it is primarily seen in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, as well as in some parts of southern France.
The surname Hermes is thought to be derived from the Greek god of the same name. Reports indicate that the first recorded occurrence of Hermes as a surname was in the 11th century in Germany, and the last name has since spread to other German-speaking countries and regions.
Today, using genealogy records and databases, it is possible to trace the history and movements of the surname Hermes from the 11th century right up to the present day. It is estimated that there are currently hundreds of thousands of individuals in Europe bearing the surname.
Variations of the surname Hermes
The surname Hermes is a common Germanic and Dutch surname which has many variants in spelling and origin. Most of the variations emerged over time due to a variety of reasons, such as spelling errors, language barrier and migration. Examples of these variations include: Harma, Hermans, Hermus, Harmes, Hermsen, Hormes, Hermen, Hermanns, Harms, and Herum.
The origin of the Hermes surname is believed to be connected to a Germanic personal name, meaning ‘army man’ or ‘warrior’, which is why variations often include the terms Herma, Hermen, Harm and Hermus. Others have evolved from the Dutch surname Hermans or Hermansz, which is a patronymic surnames derived from the name Herman.
Hermes also has many common surnames that evolved from it, such as Harmy, Hermas, Harmison, Hermine, Harmel, and Hermee. Some of these may even be Anglicized versions of foreign surnames.
Overall, the surname Hermes is fairly common and has a plethora of variations and surnames of origin. While their meanings may differ, all of these variations share the same roots and can be traced back to the Germanic and Dutch patronymic surnames, Hermans and Herma.
Famous people with the name Hermes
- Lou Hermes: Brazilian singer, songwriter, and actor.
- Manuel Hermes: Bolivian Olympic track and field athlete.
- Annette Messager: French artist known for her mixed media work, installations, and photographs.
- Gerhard Hermes: German entrepreneur and industrialist.
- John Hermes: Canadian actor.
- Dimitrios Hermes: Greek mathematician and philosopher.
- Günter Hermes: German composer and professor.
- Denis Hermes: Brazilian footballer.
- Fritz Hermes: German architect.
- Francisca Hermes: Chilean journalist and author.
- Johann Hermes: German theologian and philosopher.
- Karl Hermes: German philosopher and religion historian.
- Christina Hermes: German chronicler and physician.
- Michael Hermes: German footballer.
- Magnus Hermes: Belgian architect.
- Benedikt Hermes: German photographer and artist.
- Florence Delaage: French actress.
- Marco Hermes: Brazilian footballer.
- Andrea Hermes: German singer and actress.
- Andreas Hermes: German economist.