Surname Herrfarth - Meaning and Origin
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Herrfarth: What does the surname Herrfarth mean?
The last name Herrfarth is a German surname that is derived from the Old Germanic words “harwo” and “farth”. The meaning of “harwo” is ‘army’ or ‘warrior’ and “farth” has multiple meanings including ‘protection’ or ‘blessings’, or ‘peace’. Together, the two words combine to form the meaning “protected warrior” or “blessing of the warrior”.
The surname Herrfarth is thought to have originated as a patronymic, meaning it was derived from the name of a person’s father, rather than a physical place. It is believed that the name Herrfarth originated in the Rhineland region of Germany and is thought to have been created between the 13th to 14th centuries.
The Herrfarth family name is associated with several branches across Germany including the towns of Miesenheim, Koblenz, Mainz, Lampertheim, Duisburg, Stuttgart, and Erfurt. Some branches of the family still live in these regions today, and those who do not still often bear the name as recognition of their past ancestors.
Overall, Herrfarth is a name with a long history in Germany. It is derived from the literal meaning of “protected warrior”, and is often seen as a sign of strength and ancestry within its group of bearers. It carries with it a sense of honor and pride, and is still a widely recognized surname in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisHerrfarth: Where does the name Herrfarth come from?
The surname Herrfarth is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. It was first found in Southern Germany in regions such as Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Wurttemberg. The name is derived from either an old German word meaning ‘herr’ meaning lord or master, or German word ‘farth', meaning ready.
The Herrfarth surname is most frequently seen in the small town of Steinkirchen, a farming community of about 2,000 people located in Bavaria, where the Herrfarth family dates back to the 1600s. The family was originally thought to have been from Austria, and is believed to have immigrated to Germany in the 1700s.
The Herrfarth surname can also be found in smaller numbers scattered throughout other parts of Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. Over the centuries, many of those bearing the Herrfarth surname emigrated to the United States, particularly in the late 1800s. They primarily settled in the midwest area of the country.
Today, the Herrfarth surname is not extremely common in any one area, but is spread throughout the majority of Europe and the United States, providing a glimpse into the family’s long and fascinating history.
Variations of the surname Herrfarth
Herrfarth is a German surname of East Prussian origin. It is derived from the German words “Herr” (lord) and “Farth” (property), signifying a nobleman who held lands in feudal tenure. The variants of the family name Herrfarth include: Harfert, Harffedt, Haffert, Haferdt, Hafert, Hafid, Hafod, Harf, Harfel, Harffy, Harff, Harffel, Harffi, Harffy, Harft, Härfel, Herfart, Herferd, Herff, Herfi, Herfidi, Herfidt, Herfod, Herzfart, Herrfarth, Herrfarth, Herrfort, Herrfurth, and Herrfur.
It is possible for Herrfarth to be spelled differently in the records because of error or deliberate alteration. For example, the 'ff' in the name may have been changed to 'ph' due to the phonetic pronunciation of the name or misunderstanding of a clerk. Spelling variants of Herrfarth include: Harpfert, Harpfedt, Hapferdt, Hapfert, Hapfid, Hapfod, Harpf, Harpfel, Harpfy, Harpf, Harpfel, Harpfi, Harpfy, Harpt, Härpfel, Herpfart, Herpferd, Herpff, Herpfi, Herpfidi, Herpfidt, Herpfod, Herzpfart, Herrpfarth, Herrpfarth, Herrpfort, Herrpfurth, and Herrpfur.
Surnames of common origin, but possibly of a different family line, include Herbst, Herdfisch and Hisfarth. The different spellings of Herrfarth could indicate the same family line, but descended from different locations and branches.
In general, Herrfarth is one of the most common surnames of East Prussian origin. It portrays a rich heritage and it is important to assess the various spellings and variants of the name to better understand its spectrum of genealogy and history.
Famous people with the name Herrfarth
- Jill Herrfarth: She is an American Paralympic athlete who is the holder of several American records in track and field events. She represented the United States at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Paralympic Games, winning a total of six medals.
- Jimmy Herrfarth: He is a German-American former professional ice hockey player who was drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
- Edwin Herrfarth Fisher: He was an American business executive and alumnus from Harvard University. Later he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame.
- John Herrfarth: He was a German geologist and paleontologist. His work focused on the sedimentary rocks from Tertiary basins and coastal areas near Stuttgart, Germany.
- Christoph Herrfarth: He is a German lawyer and politician. He has represented the Confederation of Independents since 2000 and is currently a member of the Council of Scotland.
- E.J. Herrfarth: He was an American football coach who served at several different universities throughout the United States. He led the Army football team to five undefeated seasons between 1957 and 1961.
- Thomas Herrfarth: He is a German professor and former governor of the Rhineland-Palatinate state in Germany from 1995 to 1999.
- Gene Herrfarth: He is an American entrepreneur and company founder who has over 30 years of technology and executive leadership experience. He is known as the founder of several venture-backed software companies, such as Saba Software.