Surname Hussman - Meaning and Origin

Hussman: What does the surname Hussman mean?

The last name Hussman likely originated from a place name, with the name itself being derived from an old Germanic word, “husman,” meaning “houseman” or “farmer”; someone who lived and worked in or near a house or estate. Thus, the family name can be traced to people who were either farmers or landowners in the medieval ages and beyond.

The meaning of Hussman should not be confused with the German word “Hussmann,” which means “horseman” or “rider.” The origin of the name does not appear to have anything to do with equestrians.

Hussman is classified as a German surname, typical of those found in the Bavarian, Silesian and Thuringian regions of Germany. The name occurs most often in Silesia, a region that is now divided between Germany and Poland, but first appears in Bavaria as early as the 15th century.

Though it is difficult to ascertain the exact origin of any family name, what is certain is that the Hussmans were highly respected in Germany for their hard work and diligent attitude. As such, the name continues to be used and convey qualities of strong work ethics and a dedication to family.

Hussman: Where does the name Hussman come from?

The name Hussman is most commonly found in the United States, but it also has some roots in Germany, France, and Czech Republic. The name Hussman is derived from the Old High German word ‘hus’, which means house. The people with this name today are descended from one of the five sons of Hussman the Elder, born in the late thirteenth century.

In the United States, the Hussman family is most prevalent in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, and Texas. Most of the first family to settle in the US came via immigration from Germany, however, the name is also found in many states of the Midwest and Northeast, America.

In the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, the name Hussman can be found occasionally, however, these countries have relatively few people who acquired the surname.

Today, the Hussman family is a prominent name and primarily consist of individuals in professions such as business owners, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs. The name is still prominent in the US today, and is becoming more recognized as more Americans of Kaiser descent enter the public sphere and gain prominence. Examples include renowned scientists such as Stephen Hussman, a US physicist and Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics.

Variations of the surname Hussman

The surname Hussman is known primarily as a variant of the German surname Hessman. It is also spelled variously as Hüssmann, Hussmann, Hußmann, and Husman.

The name can be used to represent a few different families. The most dominant of these families originated in the Hessian region in the mid-1500s, after which the spelling “Hessman” was adopted. The family can be tracked through several generations of records in the region in subsequent centuries. The family was likely of Germanic origin, as many immigrants to this region brought the tradition of adopting surnames with them, though the exact origin of the Hessman family is unknown.

Over the years, the spelling began to change and adopt variant forms of the original spelling, all of which are commonly seen today. As a result, many people with the surname Hessman changed their name, likely for reasons of convenience or in order to sound more Americanized.

In addition to this family, there are other families originating from completely different backgrounds, also using the surname Hussman. These include Jewish immigrants in the late 1800s from Russia and Eastern Europe, and families of Dutch-American origin.

Overall, the surname Hussman is a multi-layered family name that can trace its roots back to Germanic origin but has been adopted and modified by multiple other families in different countries and contexts.

Famous people with the name Hussman

• John C. Hussman Jr.: An American investor and philanthropist who is the founder, chairman, and president of Hussman Investment Trust, a registered investment advisory firm, which owns and manages seven publicly traded mutual funds.
• William H. Hussmann, Jr.: An American physicist and political scientist. He worked for the U.S. State department in the Bureau of Arms Control and he is current the president of Hussmann Corporation, which is a family-owned business.
• Robert G. Hussman: An American business executive and philanthropist who was the chairman, president, and CEO of Supervalu from 1998 to 2013.
• David V. Hussman: an American entrepreneur, investor, and software developer. He is the co-founder of DevJam, a software development consultancy, and was a Microsoft Regional Director and a Microsoft MVP until 2003.
• Steven R. Hussman: An American businessman who is the current CEO and president of SuperValu Inc. and the former chairman and CEO of Jewel-Osco.
• Robert Hussman: A former professional baseball player who played a season in the Major League Baseball for Orioles in the 1950s.
• William Henry Hussman: An American industrialist and art collector who was a prominent citizen in the mid-20th century in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Joseph Hussman: A former politician from Pennsylvania who served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1929 to 1930.
• Wilbur L. "Pete" Hussman: A former American football player who was a fullback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins.

Other surnames

Hussmann