Surname Hermsdoerfer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hermsdoerfer: What does the surname Hermsdoerfer mean?
The last name Hermsdoerfer is of German origin, derived from the Old German "Herimann", which is made up of two parts: "heri", meaning 'army', and "mann", meaning 'man'. The suffix "-doerfer" means "village" in German, so the name Hermsdoerfer likely translates to something like "man of the army village".
In the Middle Ages, the name was probably used to describe people who originated in a particular military village, most likely a Germanic village, or for people who were part of a military or militia organization. Alternatively, it could refer to a farmer from a military village, or the original family name of someone who had moved to a different village or region.
As a modern last name, it is still very much used in Germany, and is also found in other European countries, as well as the United States. It is also commonly found in the variations Hermsdörfer, Hermstorfer, Hermsdorff, Hermsdorfer, Hirmssdorfer, Herimann, and Hærming.
Order DNA origin analysisHermsdoerfer: Where does the name Hermsdoerfer come from?
The last name Hermsdoerfer is a German surname that is still very much in use in modern-day Germany. Due to its association with Germany, it is most commonly seen in German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as in other countries with strong German cultural influences. There are also families with this last name living in the United States, Australia, Canada, and other parts of the world, although they are comparatively rare.
The meaning of the name is derived from the Old High German 'Hermesmörfer', meaning 'armour maker'. It was a popular occupational last name, denoting an individual who worked with crafting protective equipment such as suits of armor, helmets, and shields.
In addition to being an occupational surname, the name is also associated with a noble family. A 16th century noble knight of the Hermsdoerfer family lived in Lower Silesia near the Polish border and owned a village called Hermsdorf. The family had existed since at least 1143 and featured several highly-respected members, such as Thomas Hermsdoerfer who was a prominent clergyman during the Protestant Reformation.
There are no official records that track the prevalence of the name today, but it is widespread in modern-day Germany and other German-speaking countries. Its popularity as an occupational last name has probably declined since the early 20th century, but it still remains in use in Germany and around the world.
Variations of the surname Hermsdoerfer
The surname Hermsdoerfer can be written in various ways and can have different spellings or variants, depending on the country or language in which it is written. Variations of the surname are most commonly found in German speaking countries.
In German, the name is written Hermsdörfer, which has an umlaut on the "o". The letter "o" is often replaced with the letter "a", as is common in some other languages, and the name is written Hermsdaerfer.
The surname Hermsdoerfer is also commonly found with the addition of an 's' on the end, making it Hermsdoerfers. This variant is found less regularly, but appears in some official records.
The surname is pronounced differently in different countries and regions, and is even pronounced differently by individuals within the same family. In Germany, it is most commonly pronounced as 'herTS-dor-fer', while in English speaking countries, it is usually pronounced ‘hehrms-dohr-fer’.
The surnames Hermsoeder and Hermsdörffer are also partly related to the surname Hermsdoerfer, as it derives from the Germanic personal name 'Hermund', which combines the elements 'harja', meaning 'army', and 'mund', meaning 'protection'.
The surnames Hermosoeder, Hermesoder, Hemostoeder and Hermoerfer are thought to be variations of the Germanic name 'Hermund', and are also related to the surname Hermsdoerfer.
Finally, Hermosito is also a related surname, but has Spanish origins. This surname is a combination of the given name Herman and the Spanish suffix "-sito", which was added to indicate endearment.
Famous people with the name Hermsdoerfer
- Georg Hermsdoerfer (German actor)
- Heinz Hermsdoerfer (German actor)
- John Hermsdoerfer (American Politician)
- Max Hermsdoerfer (German poet)
- Paul Hermsdoerfer (German journalist)
- Reinhold Hermsdoerfer (German philosopher)
- Robert Hermsdoerfer (German composer)
- Uwe Hermsdoerfer (German artist)
- Thomas Hermsdoerfer (German businessman)
- Viktor Hermsdoerfer (German actor)