Surname Houdershelt - Meaning and Origin

Houdershelt: What does the surname Houdershelt mean?

The last name Houdershelt is of Dutch/Flemish origin, and is derived from the Dutch words “houden”, which means "to keep," and “shelten”, which means “guard” or “defend.”

The name is thought to have originally meant “watchman” or “keeper of the peace”. This could refer to someone who held a role of a village guard or sentry – likely it was a surname taken by a person who had such a duty at some point in his life.

It’s possible that in the past, someone with the last name of Houdershelt could have been responsible for overseeing village boundaries, making sure no undesirables trespassed into the village and all local laws were upheld.

Today, the surname Houdershelt retains that same spirit of responsibility and reliability. These are qualities commonly linked to members of the Houdershelt family, who are known for their loyalty and dedication to their family and their communities.

The Houdershelt surname is still fairly common in many parts of Europe, particularly in Holland and Flanders. It can also be found in areas of migration such as the United States and Canada, where those with the last name likely descend from European ancestors.

Houdershelt: Where does the name Houdershelt come from?

The surname Houdershelt is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. It began as an Anglicized version of the German surname “Hudertshelt,” which was derived from the Germanic personal name “Heudric.” The surname Houdershelt is also commonly found in other countries with strong Germanic heritage such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway.

The first record of the name in the United States dates to the late 19th century, when German immigrants began bringing the surname with them to the American continent. The name is thought to have reached its peak of popularity in the 1980s, with numerous spellings in use today. The most common alternative spellings of Houdershelt include Houdersheildt, Houdersheldt, and Houdersheild.

Today, the Houdershelt surname is still found throughout the United States and Canada in communities with Germanic and Dutch heritage. This last name can be found in most major cities as well as small towns. While the frequencies have decreased over the years, the Houdershelt surname is still carried by many people in these countries today.

Variations of the surname Houdershelt

The surname Houdershelt can be spelled in multiple ways, such as Houdersheldt, Houdershelt, and Hoderschelt. All of these spellings originate from the Germanic "Hudirsheilt" which translates to "protective shelter." It was commonly bestowed upon someone who worked as a shepherd, taking care of the sheep and providing them with shelter from predators.

Variants of the surname can also be found, such as Holderschel, Houldershel, Holderschell, Holderschellt, Holdershel, Hadowshell, Hodgesshelt, Hoderschell, Hoderschil, Hoderschill, Hoderschilt, Hodershilt, Hodershiltz, Holdershelt, and Holdersheltz, among others.

In addition to variations of the surname, there are also some surnames of similar origin that share elements of the name. Examples include Holderschrit, Houderschlost, and Houdershausen, which are all corrupted spellings of Houdershelt. Some of these variants may be found more frequently in Germany and other nearby countries.

Finally, Houdershelt is sometimes written as Hauderschelt, which is more commonly found in Pennsylvania and the United States in general. This spelling is believed to have been changed at some point in time due to the anglicization of the spelling.

Famous people with the name Houdershelt

• Max Houdershelt: Actor and voiceover artist best known for his voice performance of Makai in the popular video game Paladins.
• Cary Houdershelt: Former Major League Baseball player; pitched in the majors for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants from 1972-1976.
• Norm Houdershelt: Musician and singer who is best known as the front man of the indie rock band The Hooten Hallers.
• David Houdershelt: Social media sensation and the self-professed 'vegan hipster'; known for his lifestyle blog and YouTube channel.
• Terry Houdershelt: Retired professional ice hockey player; played defense for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the Central Hockey League from 1981-1985.
• Amanda Houdershelt: Professional cosplayer and costume designer; featured her costumes in conventions and other events worldwide.
• Ronald Houdershelt: Physician and expert in orthopedic surgery; known for his expertise in shoulder and elbow surgery and lectured around the globe.
• Mark Houdershelt: CEO of Houdershelt, Inc., a real estate company in the greater Sacramento, California area.
• Steve Houdershelt: Former NFL agent; represented professional football players across a variety of teams.
• Heather Houdershelt: Novelist; wrote a series of fantasy novels set in a post-apocalyptic world.

Other surnames

HoudersheldHoudershell