Surname Hertgens - Meaning and Origin

Hertgens: What does the surname Hertgens mean?

The last name Hertgens is of German and Dutch origin. It derives from the Middle High German verb hyrdinge, meaning "to herd". This suggests that the surname was initially used to identify someone responsible for shepherding livestock. Over time, it may have been adopted as a surname by those who tended sheep in the High German area.

Hertgens is primarily associated with the Netherlands, but there are also some Hertgens families in Germany and around Europe. It is also likely that some Hertgens families have relocated to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

This surname is quite common among the Dutch people, and in some countries (particularly the Netherlands) it is even ranked amongst the top 500 most common surnames.

The Hertgens family is thought to be of noble descent, likely due to their ancestral occupation. It can be seen as a mark of esteem, and a honour that has been passed down for generations.

Hertgens is most commonly recognized as an old Dutch name, but today its meaning has expanded beyond shepherding to encompass a strong sense of community and loyalty. These values ring true in families of all backgrounds, not just those of Dutch origin.

Hertgens: Where does the name Hertgens come from?

The last name Hertgens is most common today in the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Tracing the origin of the name Hertgens, it is derived from the German words ‘hert’ meaning deer and ‘gen’ meaning progeny. Thus, the literal meaning of the name is ‘descendant of the deer’. Due to the presence of this name in the records of old German towns, it is believed the name is of German origin.

In Germany, the surname Hertgens is most commonly found in the state of Lower Saxony. Its popularity is growing in an exponential fashion. It is also fairly common in North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, Bavaria, and in some cases in other states of Germany, as well as in Austria and Switzerland.

The first references of the name are found in northern Germany in the 13th century. It is derived from the old German word “horsing”, which means a deer. Over the centuries, the name appears as Hertge, Hertgin, Hertges and finally, Hertgens. With small variations, the name has been lastingly established in the German language.

The current number of people in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is around 14,800. The last census in Germany from 2011 showed that in the larger cities, about 30% of the population had the name Hertgens. The name Hertgens is still quite popular in these regions and likely to stay that way for many years to come.

Variations of the surname Hertgens

Hertgens is a Germanic surname, originating from Germany and the Netherlands. It is sometimes spelled Hertgens, Hertgen, Heerdegen, and Hertgenrath. It stands for "man of the woods", and was likely a patronymic surname meaning "son of Herbert" (from the Old German hari/heri, meaning “warrior”, and berht, meaning “bright” or “famous”).

Hertgens is a common name in the Netherlands and Germany, with several variant spellings. Other Dutch variants include Hertgeen, Hertgeens, Hartgeens, and Hertgens, and German variants include Hertgen, Hertgens, Herdegen, and Heerdegen. The Dutch variants are more closely associated with North Brabant and the Lower-Saxony region of Germany, while the German variants are typically found in Berlin, Dortmund, and other parts of Northern Germany.

In the United States, Hertgens is often found in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and other parts of the Midwest. The most common variants in the United States are Hertgeen, Hartgen, and Book (a combination of Hertgens and Book in Dutch dialect). Other variants, including Hertgens, have also been found.

In addition to Hertgens, other surnames derived from the same root include Heerdegen, Herdegraven, Hergens, Herhagen, and Hartgroven. These names are more commonly found in Finland and Sweden.

Overall, though the spelling might vary across continents and countries, the meaning remains the same. This surname is most likely derived from "man of the woods" and has been passed on through the generations in various spellings.

Famous people with the name Hertgens

• Max Hertgens: Max Hertgens is a Dutch track cyclist who competes on the European and World Cup cycling circuit. He has won multiple Dutch championships and has also achieved medal-winning success in European championships.
• Gijsbertus Adrianus “Bertus” Hertgens: Gijsbertus is a Dutch businessman who is the chairman of Holang BV and several other companies. He is also the former CEO of Royal Dutch Shell and the current member of the supervisory boards of Heineken and ABN Amro.
• Mark Hertgens: Mark is a Dutch software engineer who is active in the Amsterdam tech space. He is the founder and CEO of startup Birdly, a cloud-based marketing platform for small businesses.
• Koen Hertgens: Koen is a Dutch auto-racing driver who has won numerous Dutch championships as well as some international racing events. He was a factory driver for the Mercedes-Benz SLK in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
• Joke Hertgens: Joke is a Dutch actress who has appeared in multiple television productions, films and theatre performances. She is also a spoken word artist and has released multiple albums.
• Marko Hertgens: Marko is a Dutch musician and record producer. He has released multiple albums as an independent artist and is associated with multiple record labels.
• Bas Hertgens: Bas is a Dutch actor and director. He has appeared in numerous Dutch films and television productions, including the popular television series ‘Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden’.
• Annelies Hertgens: Annelies is a Dutch singer, composer and violinist. She has released multiple albums and has varied styles ranging from jazz to classical music.

Other surnames

Hertgen