Surname Hiestand - Meaning and Origin

Hiestand: What does the surname Hiestand mean?

The last name Hiestand has Germanic origin, derived from a combination of two words, “hiest” meaning “Head” and “stand” meaning “place”. Together, the two words make the name Hiestand, which literally translates into "Head-Place". This last name could signify two distinct and well-defined meanings; either a location where the leader of a village, town, or estate would reside, or a person who hired out as a guard, notary, or judge.

The Hiestand name became widely associated with noble families and were often included amongst the Middle Class of German-speaking regions during the 13th and 14th centuries; accepted to represent great influence and political power of those families.

The name and its variants, such as Hiestandt, Heustand, and Heastand, also represents a common spelling among the Mennonite and Amish communities of Pennsylvania, and Hiestand has a presence in the United States since the 1700s.

Today, the last name Hiestand continues to represent strong family values, stability, loyalty, and living with a moral and ethical purpose. Most families bearing this name are proud of their ancestral roots and continue to live in harmony striving to make a difference in the global community.

Hiestand: Where does the name Hiestand come from?

The last name Hiestand is a very common surname in the United States today, as it is among the top 1,000 most popular surnames in the country. More specifically, the name is widely found in both the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, where it ranks in the top 200 most popular surnames.

Historically, the name has its roots in Germany where it derived from the Old High German word for “landowner”, hence “Hiestand”. Over time of course the spelling and the pronunciation of the name has changed and mutated. Initially, the name was written as “Hiestände” but eventually evolved to “Hiestand”.

It has been hypothesized that Hiestand is a derivative of of “Hinz-Estin”, which was a given name adopted by German immigrants who made their way to North America in the 1700s. These immigrants were from Swiss backgrounds and were among the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean and settle in the eastern regions of the United States, such as in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It was here that the spelling of the last name Hiestand may have become standardized.

Since that time, the last name has spread to many other areas of the United States, but it is especially prominent in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It can also be found in other parts of the world, as the name is now used in countries like Germany and the United Kingdom as well.

Variations of the surname Hiestand

The surname Hiestand is of German and Swiss origin, and it comes from the Old High German haganstan/aga.stan, a compound word made from hagan (meaning a hedge) and stand (meaning location or place). This surname is commonly found in Switzerland, South Germany, and parts of France, and the variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin for this surname are as follows:

- Heested: This Scottish variant of the name is found in East Lothian, Scotland.

- Heestand: An Americanized form found mainly in Pennsylvania and the Midwest of the United States.

- Heister: Another German variant of the name, which can also be spelled as Heistermann.

- Heisterkamp: A commonly used Dutch variant of the name.

- Heizmann: It is a variant of the name that is mostly found in southwestern Germany, including cities like Stuttgart and Freiburg.

- Hastand: Another German spelling of the name.

- Hofestandt: A variant found in German-speaking areas of Europe, which translates to “court location”.

- H Rystede: A variant found in England.

- Haistd: Another English variant of the name, which is derived from the German “Haisten” for “hedge standing”.

- Handstrand: The most common Swedish variant of the name. It is closely related to the German spelling of Heisterkamp.

- Heyst: It is a variant that is found mainly in Rheinland-Pfalz and in North America, specifically Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Iowa.

The name Hiestand is also linked to several other names, such as Haston, Hawston, Hoiston, and Hestand.

Famous people with the name Hiestand

• Justine Hiestand: American soccer player who plays for Seattle Reign FC
• Matthew Hiestand: American soccer player who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes
• Rex Hiestand: American football player who played for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles
• Cory Hiestand: Former professional baseball player for the Minnesota Twins
• John Hiestand: Former American football player who played for the Denver Broncos
• Jayme Hiestand: Professional mountain biker from the United States
• David Hiestand: American water-skier who won the gold medal at the World Championships in 1989
• Ryan Hiestand: American soccer player who already played two seasons for the Colorado Rapids
• Nancy Hiestand: Entrepreneur and founder of a global technology company
• Sharon Hiestand: American beauty pageant contestant who won Miss Nevada USA 2014
• Gary Hiestand: Professional basketball player who played for the Washington Generals
• Mary Hiestand: Former American basketball player who was a four-year starter at Southern Illinois University
• Basil M. Hiestand: Emmy Award-winning television producer for documentaries and sports programs
• Brian Hiestand: Veteran and founder of the troop assistance program, Operation 'You're Not Alone'.
• Sam Hiestand: 19th-century American banker and politician who served in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Other surnames

Hiestands