Surname Houdenshelt - Meaning and Origin
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Houdenshelt: What does the surname Houdenshelt mean?
The last name Houdenshelt is of German origin, but is also found in English-speaking countries, primarily the United States. The name was likely derived from Houwennsheldt, an Old High German word that is likely related to a variant of the term “hudenschält” which means “holding a guardian or protective shield”.
The name likely originated in its English spelling in the 19th century as a result of immigration to the United States by Germans, many of whom bore the name Houdenshelt. It is likely the earliest immigrants had variants of the surname such as Hovenshelde, Houvenald, Huffenschilling, and Hudenschilt.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Houdenshelt surname was most notably found in states such as Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. There have been many noted professionals with the surname, such as William Houdenshelt, Jr., a 19th century American minister, and George Houdenshelt, a 20th century American politician.
The surname Houdenshelt is a testament to the strength and resiliency of the German immigrants who brought it with them to the United States. The meaning behind the name implies a guardian and protector, which is encouraging to families and individuals who bear the name Houdenshelt and its various spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisHoudenshelt: Where does the name Houdenshelt come from?
The surname Houdenshelt is most commonly found in the United States today. The name is of German origin and was first found primarily in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. It is thought to have been brought to America by early immigrants in the 1700s and 1800s. The name was later found in other states such as North Dakota and Michigan and today can be found scattered throughout the entire USA.
The name is fairly rare, and it is estimated that among all the people in the United States today, there are only about 500 individuals who bear this surname. That number may be even lower because some people who share the same last name may in fact be unrelated, so it is possible that as few as 300 people currently living are members of this family. The surname is most common in Marion, Ohio where approximately fifty people bear this name.
In addition to the United States, the surname is also thought to be found in Canada and Germany where it is thought that individuals with this name were born and now have family living there. In Germany, the name is found in the northwestern section near the Dutch border, but there are very few with this surname and it is not known how many people still reside in that country who share the same family name.
Overall, the surname Houdenshelt is a rare surname and today is most commonly found in the United States. Searching for records of this surname in the United States can be difficult as a result of its rarity, but those who are interested in learning more may be able to find records in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and areas along the German/Dutch border.
Variations of the surname Houdenshelt
The surname Houdenshelt has many variants and derivations, which are often used interchangeably. The most common variants are Houde, Houndshell, Houndshellt, Houdshell, Houtshell, Houdshells and Houdenshultz.
Houde is derived from the Middle English personal name, “Houd”. This form of the name is the most widely spread and is usually seen in France and Canada.
Houndshell, Houndshellt and Houdshell are alternative spellings which have become more popular since the late 19th century. Houtshell is a derivative of these spelling, which was used in the United States in the early 1900’s and has since been used almost exclusively in the United States.
Houdshells is another spelling found to be used mainly in England, while Houdenshultz is a primarily German spelling of the name.
Some of the surnames with a similar sound or origin include Houdeau, Houdine, Houdre, Houndshill and Houdek. These surnames can be found scattered throughout Europe, with Houdine originating from France.
In addition, there are many persons with different surnames but similar sounding names. These include such as Haydenshultz, Haydenshelb and Heydenshull.
Altogether, there are numerous different variants and spellings of the surname Houdenshelt that are used around the world. Despite the differences in spellings and pronunciations, it is understood that all of these surnames originate from the same ancestor.
Famous people with the name Houdenshelt
- Lance Houdenshelt: A Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent.
- Bill Houdenshelt: A retired Major League Baseball first baseman who played from 1966 to 1974.
- Dina Houdenshelt: An Olympic biathlete from St. Louis, Missouri, who is a former member of the US Biathlon Team.
- Jesse Houdenshelt: A professional wrestler and former NCAA Division III All-American.
- Stephen Houdenshelt: An award-winning documentary filmmaker who produced the 2006 film, The Victor.
- Carl Houdenshelt: A retired college professor at Wayne State University who specialized in medieval art and architecture.
- Dan Houdenshelt: A former professional football player who was drafted in the seventh round of the 1992 NFL Draft.
- Charles Houdenshelt: A Soviet-era cosmonaut who served on the Soyuz-36 and Soyuz-65 missions.
- Jack Houdenshelt: A US Marine Corps aviator and veteran of Vietnam War who retired as a colonel.
- David Houdenshelt: A former professional golfer best known for winning the 1979 US Amateur Championship.