Surname Hertog - Meaning and Origin

Hertog: What does the surname Hertog mean?

The last name Hertog is a Dutch name of noble origin which can be found in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and parts of Northern France. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word hertoch, meaning "duke". This term was once used to denote a high-ranking, hereditary nobleman, historically ruling over a large area of land.

In Holland, the title of hertog (or hertogh) is still used officially, though now the rank is honorific and no longer related to rulership. This title is closely related to the title of hertogin, which is reserved for the wife of a hertog.

In modern-day society, the surnames Hertog and hertogin have been used since the Middle Ages, becoming increasingly popular over the years. It may have found its way into several countries due to migration during the Dutch Golden Age as well as during and after World War II.

Today, the surname Hertog or hertogin is a very common name in The Netherlands, as well as in Belgium and Germany. To those who bear the name, it is associated with nobility, integrity, and power.

Hertog: Where does the name Hertog come from?

The last name Hertog is mainly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany today. In the Netherlands, it is quite a common name particularly in the western provinces. It first appeared in the Netherlands in the 1500s when Elisabeth Hertog, who had come from Saxony (Germany) married a Dutchman, and was the beginning of the Hertog family in the Low Countries.

In Netherlands, the family name sounds like Hartog or Hartoch whilst in Flanders, it is often spelled as Herthoge. The family history is glued to the sea with many shipbuilders, ship merchants, and fishermen as well as recorded lifeboatsmen, pilots, customs officers, and mariners.

In Germany, the Hertog family can trace its origins to the 14th and 15th centuries in the eastern provinces bordering the Netherlands and later in the western provinces in the late 1700s. The modern day Hertog family can be found throughout Germany, but still especially in the eastern and western provinces.

In Belgium, it is spelt both as Hertog andhartog and is mainly concentrated in the northern part of the country. Here it is thought to be derived from the Walloon word "hèrtoh," meaning "warrior," and corresponds to the French name héros.

The name appears to have been most common in Germany with scattered clusters throughout the Nederland provinces and Belgium in the early 1800s. Today, it is largely concentrated in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Hertog

The Dutch surname “Hertog” has a variety of variants and spellings, as well as different surnames which have the same origin. Common alternative spellings of “Hertog” include “Hertogen,” “Hertoghe,” “Hertogs,” and “Hertoges.” The alternative surname “De Hertog” can also be seen, which is simply the “Hertog” surname with the preposition “De” in front.

The variant spellings of “Hertog” can appear in different languages and countries, depending on how the surname was translated over time. In Afrikaans-speaking parts of South Africa, “Hertog” can be seen spelled as “Hertzog” or “Hertzog”. In Dutch-speaking parts of the Netherlands, the spellings “Hertoch” or “Hertochs” can be found. In German-speaking parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the surname “Hertog” can appear as “Hertzog” or “Hertzogs.”

Various surnames of the same origin as “Hertog” can be found throughout Europe. In Dutch, the surname “Hertoghe” could have undergone some form of transformation over time, and could be seen today as “Hertoghe” or “Der Hertoghe” in the Netherlands. Other Dutch surnames related to “Hertog” might include “Heteren,” “Hertoghe Boelens,” “Hertog van Oudtshoorn,” “Hertog Biersteker,” and “Hertog Molenvliedt.” In German-speaking countries, the surname “Hertog” is typically seen as “Hertzog,” however alternative surnames include “Hertzog von Wied,” “Hertzog Uedemann,” and “Hertzog von Ochsenstein.”

Overall, the Dutch surname “Hertog” has multiple variants, spellings, and related surnames which have undergone changes due to different languages and cultures over time.

Famous people with the name Hertog

• Karel de Hertog: the 14th Prime Minister of Belgium.
• Jan De Hertog: Belgian cyclist who has competed at UCI World Cycling Championships.
• Jean-Michel de Hertog: former Belgian sports journalist.
• Pierre de Hertog: Belgian lawyer and politician.
• Jules de Hertog: Belgian cyclist who competed in UCI Road World Championships.
• Rene de Hertog: Dutch politician.
• Matthias de Hertog: Belgian artist and painter.
• Rob de Hertog: Dutch football goalkeeper.
• David de Hertog: Belgian sculptor and painter.
• Jean de Hertog: Belgian actor, author, and film director.
• Jan De Hertoghe: Belgian composer.
• Antoon de Hertog: Belgian cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1980.
• Frederic de Hertog: former Belgian footballer.
• Bruno de Hertog: former Belgian footballer.
• Bernd de Hertog: Dutch actor, scriptwriter, and director.
• Panem De Hertog: Belgian actor and comedian.
• Remi de Hertog: Dutch footballer who played for Feyenoord in 1999.
• Etienne de Hertog: Belgian sprint cyclist.
• Olivier De Hertog: Belgian football player.
• Alexander De Hertog: Belgian ice hockey player.

Other surnames

Hertogs