Surname Hertwick - Meaning and Origin

Hertwick: What does the surname Hertwick mean?

The last name Hertwick is of German origin and is derived from Herr, meaning “lord,” and wick, which translates to “settlement” or “village” in Old English. Put together, the name could be interpreted to mean “the lord’s settlement” or “lord’s village.”

The name has been used in records about the area that is now Northern Germany since the 13th century. While English surnames began to appear in the late medieval period, the Hertwicks were an established family in the region by that time.

In the 19th century, many members of the Hertwick family migrated to the United States. Upon arriving in the U.S., they often changed the spelling of their name and adopted the spelling of “Hartwick.” Today, there are many people in the United States and beyond who can trace their ancestry back to this family.

Those with the surname Hartwick today often share a deep passion for their ancestry and many paint, garden, write, and research their family’s history. The legacy of the Hertwick family is an enduring one, with members maintaining a strong sense of pride in their last name and family heritage.

Hertwick: Where does the name Hertwick come from?

The last name Hertwick is most common today in the United States. This English surname originated in the north of England, although there is evidence of the Hertwick name in Scotland. Records suggest that the family moved south around the mid 17th century and dispersed across the country, with some choosing to cross the Atlantic and begin new lives in America.

Hertwick family members can now be found in a variety of states in the United States, although the most concentrated populations are in California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas. A cursory search of the US census data shows that some of the last remaining Hertwick family members live in the Midwestern state of Wisconsin.

The Hertwick name is not as common in the United States as it once was in England, but of the remaining Hertwick family members, a greater number can be found in American cities and towns. These days, the Hertwick surname is typically seen on American football fields and basketball courts, with Hertwick sons named after their family’s legacy with sports.

Whilst the Hertwick name may have had humble beginnings in the north of England, today, it lives on in the cities and towns of the United States.

Variations of the surname Hertwick

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hertwick are: Hartwick, Hartwijk, Hertwig, Hartvig, Hertvig, Hertveld, Hartvelt.

Hartwick is the most common spelling and is also referred to as ‘Hartwijk’. This is a variant of the Dutch surname "Hartwijck" or ‘Hartwijk’in Dutch. The Dutch spelling is more a case of phonetic spelling indicating a spelling variation rather than a variation on the original surname. The phonetic version of the Dutch spelling is often spelt ‘Hartwig’.

The German variant ‘Hertwig’ has become a popular alternative spelling of the surname. This is drawn from the old German word ‘herz’ meaning ‘heart’ and this variant indicates a connection with those who were descended from a family or place with an association with the heart.

The Scandinavian variants ‘Hartvig’ or ‘Hertvig’ also exist. This variation is derived from the old Norse word ‘hert’ meaning ‘heart’. The association with the heart also indicates a connection back to a family or place of origin.

The Dutch variant ‘Hertveld’ or ‘Hartvelt’ are both regional spellings that have variously been spelled over time. This could be a reference to a family or place name in the Netherlands.

Overall, there is much variation in the spelling and use of the Hague surname and it is popularly used in many parts of Europe.

Famous people with the name Hertwick

• Mark Hertwick: current American football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Simon Hertwick: British actor who has appeared in feature films like Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Imagine That (2009).
• Kerry Hertwick: Australian Paralympic swimmer, who won 2 gold medals in the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney.
• Boots Hertwick: acclaimed American baseball player, who played for several teams throughout his career, most notably the Chicago White Sox, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
• Adele Hertwick: renowned primatologist, who has been studying the socio-behavioural dynamics of primates for over 20 years.
• Peter Hertwick: German singer-songwriter, best known for his acoustic folk music.
• Bob Hertwick: former professional ice hockey player, who won a Stanley Cup championship with the Edmonton Oilers in 1988.
• Robert Hertwick: award-winning visual effects supervisor, who has worked on films such as Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
• Wilbur Hertwick: the legendary American aviator, who was the first to fly solo from the United States to Europe in 1927.

Other surnames

HertwichHertwig