Surname Horejs - Meaning and Origin
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Horejs: What does the surname Horejs mean?
The last name Horejs is an English and German surname, and can be traced back to the area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. The earliest documented occurrences of this surname are in the 16th century. The name Horejs is derived from the German word ‘horr’, meaning ‘heir’ or ‘descendant’, as well as ‘jung’, meaning ‘young’. Combining the two words, the name Horejs can be taken to mean ‘new heir’ or ‘next descendent’.
The name Horejs is commonly found in Europe, where it is most prevalent in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, but is found in other countries too. It is also a common surname in the United States, this surname is believed to have been brought to the country primarily by immigrants from Germany and other European countries.
Although the exact origin of the name is unknown, it is clear that the name Horejs was developed over time by immigrants who wanted to use a name to distinguish their family’s lineage. Horejs also holds significance in various religious traditions, with some members belonging to the Roman Catholic Church or the Evangelical Church.
The name Horejs can also be found in records as a variation, such as Horajs, Haores, and Harajy. Although the variations of the name may be pronounced differently, they all mean the same thing— ‘new heir’ or ‘next descendent’.
Order DNA origin analysisHorejs: Where does the name Horejs come from?
The last name Horejs is primarily associated with regions of central and eastern Europe, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Austria and Hungary. It is believed to be of either Bohemian or Slovakian origin, and is thought to be derived from the Czech word "horejší", which means "elevated". In the United States, the last name is particularly common in the states of Pennsylvania, Califormia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas, New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts.
Today, the surname Horejs is fairly common, especially in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. According to the Czech Social Survey from 2018, it was ranked as the 2,190th most common last name out of almost 15,000 surveyed in the Czech Republic. The Slovakian data, however, is not available.
In the United States, the last name currently ranks 3,118th in the population according to Swiss American Surname Number, meaning it is relatively uncommon, however it is gradually increasing in frequency. It is most commonly found in the Midwestern states, as well as Pennsylvania and California. Given that those regions have historically been among the most popular destinations for immigrants from the central and eastern European countries in which the surname is most common, this is not surprising.
Overall, the last name Horejs appears to be widespread across both Europe and the United States, and its frequency appears to be increasing in both contexts.
Variations of the surname Horejs
The surname Horejs is a slavic derived surname, and is commonly found throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Variants and spellings of the surname include Horejsi, Horjes, Hörejs, Hörejsi, Hörjes, Hörjes, Horješí, and Horejsch, as well as others.
The root of the name is derived from the Proto-Slavic term hore or hori, meaning ‘mountain’. As such, it is likely to have been initially used to denote a person who hailed from mountainous terrain. It is possible that in some cases, the original form of the name was either distorted by dialectal variation, or blended with foreign words to produce a new surname in the locality.
In some instances, the name may have also been adapted to suit a particular family’s heraldry. This could have been accomplished through minor variations in spelling and the addition of minor suffixes such as -i and -ch. However, it is unclear as to the exact circumstances under which this may have occurred.
Other surnames that have been speculated to have a connection to Horejs include Horecký, Horčičák, and Horčík. However, the exact connection between these surnames and Horejs remains uncertain.
Famous people with the name Horejs
- Roj Horejs: Slovenian downhill mountain biker and winner of the 2008 European Mountain Bike Championships
- Martin Horejs: Music Composer and Arranger, notable works include the film Karaoke Kid and the 2008 video game Hellboy: The Science of Evil
- Mateo Horejs: Slovak footballer who has represented Slovakia at U-21 level
- Philipp Horejs: Austrian Paralympic swimmer who participated in the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games
- Marko Horejs: Slovenian musician and member of the band Outhousers
- Leon Horejs: Czech actor and scriptwriter
- Marianne Horejs: Austrian opera singer best known for her performances in Georges Bizet's Carmen
- Nadja Horejs: Austrian athlete who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in judo and karate
- Peter Horejs: Austrian classical guitarist notable for his renditions of works by Vivaldi and Beethoven
- Jennifer Horejs: Austrian professor of education at the University of Klagenfurt and author of numerous books on engagement in classrooms