Surname von Hertlein - Meaning and Origin

von Hertlein: What does the surname von Hertlein mean?

The last name von Hertlein is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German "hert", meaning "hart" or "hard". The suffix "-lein" was added to create a diminutive form of the word indicating something in small size.

The name became a hereditary surname indicating a person or family that is small and hardworking. It is sometimes seen as an occupational name, implying a status of being hired to undertake manual labour. This could refer to a general labourer, or a more specialized worker such as a blacksmith or carpenter.

In more recent centuries, the von Hertlein family has become recognized as an aristocratic name due to the status and titles that some of its members have acquired. Von Hertlein is tied to two categories of German nobility; the “Uradel”, which refers to a direct line of descent from medieval families and the “briefadel” a select group of nobles who achieved nobility through recognized service to the Crown.

Today von Hertlein is a name that carries a long history of accomplishment and respect. It implies a family that stood for hard work, integrity and an unwavering commitment to their objectives. It is a name that speaks both of the nobility of service and of the tenacity of individuals who recognized the importance of craftsmanship and dedication to their tasks.

von Hertlein: Where does the name von Hertlein come from?

The last name von Hertlein is most commonly found in Germany, particularly the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. This is due to its origin in the Middle Ages when individuals with the von Hertlein surname served as land-owning nobility in the area.

The surname is derived from a German phrase meaning "from the castle", and records dating back to 1447 note individuals from the same family bearing a title of nobility from the castle Hartanshausen. As a result, many von Hertlein families are still native to the surrounding region.

The von Hertlein surname has also made its way to countries such as the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, and several other Latin American countries. This is because of the large amount of German immigration to the Americas. In the United States the von Hertlein surname is most prominent in areas known for German immigration such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Missouri.

In modern times, von Hertlein is most prominently a regional name in the areas of Germany in which the surname originated. There are a handful of von Hertlein still scattered across the world, but it is primarily a localized surname concentrated in the area from which it originated.

Variations of the surname von Hertlein

Von Hertlein is a German surname of noble origin, originating from the German word “hertel” meaning “sword.” The most common variants of von Hertlein include, Hertlein, Hertlin, Hertling, Hertlyn, and Hertlein. In addition, there are other variations and forms of the surname such as Hertline, Hertdle, Herthlein, Hartline, Hertle, Heartline, Hartlein, Hartling, and Hertelaine.

Von Hertlein may also be spelled with the umlaut used to mark vowels as Hert’le or Hert’lein. The variants of this spelling may then include Hart’le, Hert’ling, Hert’lyn, and Hert’line. In addition, some person with the von Hertlein surname may drop the “von” and only use Hertlein, and conversely certain families may add the von back in.

Other surnames that also originate from the “hertel” root word may also include Hertel, Herten, Hurtel, Hertely, and Hertrich, amongst others. The surnames may have originated from a location by the same name.

Lastly, the surname Hertlein may refer to an individual of Jewish origins as the pronunciation of “Hertlein” is very similar to the Jewish sounding surname “Hertz”, or Hartz. This surname may be based on the German word “hartz” which translates to a reference to a stag or deer.

Famous people with the name von Hertlein

• Theodor von Hertlein (1840-1920): German military officer and ornithologist who served in the Bavarian Army and founded the Ornithological Society of Bavaria.
• Karl von Hertlein (1881-1948): Austrian painter and sculptor best known for landscape painting. His most notable works include Landscape with a Windmill and The Bell Tower of the Castle Oberberg.
• Hermann von Hertlein (1895-1958): German SS officer, knight of the Iron Cross recipient, and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He also served as a Generalmajor in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and a post-war diplomat.
• Fritz von Hertlein (1909-1986): German entrepreneur who established a global fashion brand bearing his name. He was also a sports pilot and sailing enthusiast.
• Heinrich von Hertlein (1913-1992): German cardiologist and professor of internal medicine at the University of Munich. He specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases.
• Gotthard von Hertlein (1922-2011): German politician who served as a Bundestag deputy from 1972 to 1990. He was a member of the Free Democratic Party and was a strong proponent of European integration.
• Gertrud von Hertlein (1926-2013): German biologist and molecular anatomist, particularly known for her research on mitochondrial biogenesis. She was also a professor emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
• Jürgen von Hertlein (1937-2018): German entrepreneur and philanthropist who served as the executive director of the von Hertlein foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to helping kids with special needs.

Other surnames

von Hertling