Surname Höche - Meaning and Origin
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Höche: What does the surname Höche mean?
The German surname Höche (or Hoeche) is derived from the words "hoech" or "hoch," both of which mean "high" or "tall." This suggests that the original bearer of the name was tall in stature or held a status of higher social standing.
The earliest known written record of this German surname dates back to the 15th century, where a man nicknamed "Hoech" (literally "High") appeared in the court records of Saxony. By 1556, the name was officially adopted by a family in the town of Falkenau, in Bohemia.
The Höche name is still common in Saxony and other parts of Germany today. Although uncommon, it has also spread with German emigrants to other parts of the world, where it has taken on different variations in pronunciation such as "Hoek" or "Hook."
The name Höche is still a source of pride for many German families, symbolizing high social standing, dignity, and respect. Today, many Germans see the name as a lasting reminder of their ancestors' accomplishments, whether it was through hard work, loyalty, or service to their country.
Order DNA origin analysisHöche: Where does the name Höche come from?
The surname Höche is mainly found in Germany today, especially in southwestern Germany, although rare. Historically, it is believed to have originated with a few different lines of ancestry. One line in what is now the modern German state of Bavaria is likely to be Frankish, recorded in Germany as early as the 8th or 9th century. Another line is from a palatine family of the Höche of Hoheneck, located in Baden-Württemberg. The districts of Freudenstadt and Calw, also located in Baden-Württemberg, were historically the most popular.
Today, Höche is typically seen as a relatively rare surname. The 2015 German census found only 1,233 people using the name, suggesting that it has been surpassed in popularity by other surnames. Most of these individuals live in Germany, although isolated instances have been found in other countries, such as the United States.
Given that Höche is an old, possibly aristocratic, surname, it is likely to be descended from relatively few families. However, because of the length of time that the name has been in Germany, it is likely that those bearing the name have blended with other families and spread across Europe over time.
Variations of the surname Höche
The surname Höche is a patronymic German surname derived from the personal name of "Hocher". It is spelled and pronounced various ways in Germany and other countries. It may be seen as Heiche, Heuche, and Hoeche. In the United States, common spellings are Hoecht, Hoeche, Hoetch, Huche, and Hecke.
In Germany, some of the more common variants for Höche include Heche, Hohe, and Hocher. These spellings may vary even more, depending on the region or language of a specific area. Other variants may include Hecke, Heuche, Heuck, Heieck, Heyeck, Hueche, and Huecke.
The name may also be used interchangeably with Hoche, as German orthography allows for the interchange of some letter combinations. In this case, the letters “ö” and “o” are interchangeable vowels. This means that Höche may also be written as Hoche. Additionally, some families may spell the name as Hohce.
Surnames that may be derived from the original spelling of Höche include Heche, Hoecht, Hohe, Hoeche, Hoetch, Hocher, Hoche, Hohce, Huche, and Hecke. Some surnames may be passed down from family to family that were derived from the spelling of Höche, so it’s best to look at additional variants of the name to ensure you’re not missing out on any potential family members.
Famous people with the name Höche
- Peter Höche, former professional golfer.
- Gabriele Höcherl, former Olympic athlete who competed in javelin throw.
- Axel Höchst, German actor and theater director.
- Erika Höchst, a former Miss Germany.
- Bernd Höchstädter, German ski mountaineer.
- Walter Höchstetter, Austrian footballer.
- Reinhold Höchst, Austrian bobsledder.
- Rüdiger Höchst, German swimmer.
- Michael Höchstädter, German skeleton racer.
- Wilfried Höchenberger, German mathematician.