Surname Horwat - Meaning and Origin
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Horwat: What does the surname Horwat mean?
The last name Horwat is of Polish origin and is derived from the personal name Horwał. During the Middle Ages, Polish surnames could be drawn from a variety of sources including references to saints, places, or occupations. The surname Horwat translates literally to mean ‘belonging to Horwał’, indicating that the surname is derived from a personal name.
The given name Horwał is a relatively uncommon name in Poland and has been primarily used in southern and western Poland, as well as parts of Ukraine. It is thought to have been derived from the name Harwałd, which is the Slavicized version of the German name Herwald. The origins of this name are uncertain, but it could be a combination of the elements hari and wald, which mean "army" and "rule", respectively.
Due to its Slavic roots, individuals bearing the Horwat last name often were associated with farming land or agriculture. The family was a critical part of the rural feudal systems in Europe, providing landlords with labor, services, and resources as tenant farmers. Horwat later became a surname that was used as an occupational name for farmers or workers in agriculture.
Today, the surname has spread to many countries and is no longer solely associated with farming. However, it is still quite an uncommon name relative to other Polish surnames. It still carries the connotations of strong agricultural tradition and rural roots.
Order DNA origin analysisHorwat: Where does the name Horwat come from?
The last name Horwat is most often found in Poland. It is quite a common surname in Poland, although it is still not one of the most popular surnames. According to the Polish surname database, the last name Horwat is one of the top 500 surnames in Poland, appearing 27,272 times among the population within the country.
It is possible that the Horwat surname originated in a small village in the south of the country, near the Slovakian border. This is a common origin for many Polish surnames. It is believed that this surname derives from the word "horwac," which means to protect in Old Polish and is related to the word for an animal’s bite.
In addition to Poland, the Horwat last name is found in the United States, primarily among immigrants from Poland who came to America. The Horwat surname is also found in the Canadian province of Quebec. There are also a few families bearing this surname who can be found in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Slovakia.
Although the Horwat last name is not amongst the top surnames in any of these countries, it is likely that there are still individuals bearing the Horwat surname in these countries and other areas. It is likely that the Horwat name continues to be fairly common in Poland and other countries with a large Polish population.
Variations of the surname Horwat
The surname Horwat is derived from the Germanic given name Hortwinus, which is composed of two elements: 'hort', meaning 'garden', and 'winus', meaning 'friend'. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Horwat include Hortwine, Hortwin, Hortwini, Hortwiner, Hortwyn, Hortwener, Hortwinus, Hortwinger, Portwine, Portwin, Portwini, Portwiner, Portwyn, Portwener, Portwinus, Portwinger, and Horwinger.
Hortwine is believed to be the earliest form of the Horwat surname. It is derived from the earlier Germanic Hortwinus name, and was popularized as a result of its use by Germanic warriors fighting in the 10th century AD. Hortwin is another variant of the Horwat surname and is found in various parts of Europe. Hortwini is a less common spelling of the same name and is used in some parts of North and South America.
Hortwiner is a variant of the Horwat name found mainly in parts of the United Kingdom. Hortwyn and Hortwener are anglicized forms of Hortwine and are also found in the UK. Another variant of the Horwat name is Portwine, which is found in some areas of Europe. Similarly, other variants of the Horwat name such as Portwin, Portwini, Portwiner, Portwyn, and Portwener are found in Europe.
The surname Portwinus is most commonly found in Germany, while Portwinger is a variant of the Horwat name that is found in the United States. Similarly, Horwinger is a variant of the Horwat name found in North America. In conclusion, there are several different variants of the Horwat surname found around the world, with each spelling having slightly different origins and meanings.
Famous people with the name Horwat
- David Horwat: Former international basketball player for Yugoslavia and current Director of Strategic Development for the NBA.
- Ewa Horwat: Polish actor, film-maker, and playwright.
- Gary Horwat: American legal theorist and professor of law at UC Davis.
- Jacek Horwat: Former professor at University of Wrocław philosophical faculty.
- Michael Horwat: Australian actor and artistic director of Lucky Oceans Productions, responsible for the award-winning musical “Fiddler on the Stockade.”
- Patricija Horvat: Croatian architect and urban planner, director of the Museum of Architecture and Design in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Patrick Horwat: Former Canadian racquetball champion and professional player.
- Reine Horwat: Former German long distance runner.
- Suzanne Horwat: French journalist and senior news editor on Canal+.
- Sarah Horvat: Australian model and actress, best known for her appearance in the Australian television series “Home and Away.”