Surname Hochhut - Meaning and Origin

Hochhut: What does the surname Hochhut mean?

The surname Hochhut is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Middle German nouns “hoch” and “hut”, which together mean “high hat” or “tall cap”. It is thought that the name may have originally referred to someone who wore a particularly tall hat, either as an indication of wealth and status or for practical protection from the elements. The same root words are also found in the German language as the phrase “Hochhut tragen”, meaning “to wear a tall hat”.

The surname is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg, as well as in Austria and Switzerland. It is also present in some French and Dutch records, though it is very rare in those countries.

Hochhut is an uncommon but interesting surname, with a fascinating history that can tell us something about the people who bore it. It is likely that most people with this name were successful farmers, traders, or entrepreneurs in their day and had the good fortune to wear a fashionable and distinguished hat.

Hochhut: Where does the name Hochhut come from?

The last name, Hochhut, is primarily found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland, though significant numbers of Hochhuts can also be found in the United States and Canada. In fact, the majority of Hochhuts living outside of Germany and its linguistic enclaves are found in North America.

The earliest records of Hochhut can be found in the Rhineland, as well as in the eastern borderland regions of the former Holy Roman Empire. It is believed the surname derives from a nickname, possibly for someone of high stature.

In modern times, the Hochhut family has become well established all over the world. As many as two-dozen Hochhut families are listed in the US telephone directory. The highest concentrations can be found in the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and Illinois, mainly in large- to mid-sized cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Chicago and Indianapolis.

Significant numbers of Hochhuts can also be found in Canada, typically in the provinces of British Colombia, Ontario, and Alberta. Prominent Hochhuts can also be found in all corners of the globe, including Mexico, the UK, Australia and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Hochhut

Hochhut is a German surname, which can be spelt and pronounced in many different ways, depending on the exact area where it is found. Common variants of the surname include Hechhut, Heechhut, Highhut, Hocheit, Hogheit, Hofhut, Hohhut and Huchhut. While the exact origin of the surname is not clear, it is believed that it derives either from a personal name or from the German word “hoch”, which means high or tall.

The surname can also be found in other countries, such as the United States and the UK, where it is usually spelt in its original form, Hochhut. However, there are also numerous variations of the name, such as Hochhud, Hohhud, Huckshut, Hochut, Hockhud and Hochheit.

The surname has also developed many additional spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Hochhyt, Hochtyt, Hofmann, Hochdorf, Hohe, Hochstet, Hochmuth, Hochstetter, Hohmann, Hoheisel and Heffner. Additionally, many people with the surname, particularly in the US, have adopted the form Hechhut, which is derived from the original German spelling.

In short, the surname Hochhut can be spelt and pronounced in a variety of ways, depending on the exact region where it is found. There are also many other surnames and spellings of the same origin, which can be used to trace the family history.

Famous people with the name Hochhut

• Berthold Hochhut: renowned German playwright
• Bruno Hochhut: German artist and satirist
• Moritz Hochhut: 19th century German American author
• Benjamin Hochhut: German attorney and businessman
• Elmar Hochhut: German trade unionist
• Eva Hochhut: German women's rights activist
• Judith Hochhut: German actress and singer
• Maximilian Hochhut: 19th century German American publisher
• Friederike Hochhut: German author
• Emma Hochhut: 19th century German American educator

Other surnames

Hochhuth