Surname Zehe - Meaning and Origin
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Zehe: What does the surname Zehe mean?
The last name Zehe is of German origin, and most likely derived from the Middle High German word "sehe," meaning "thin" or "lean." It was used to describe an individual who was slender in stature. This surname was likely to have appeared first in Bavaria, Germany in the 14th century and spread throughout the region.
In more recent centuries, the name Zehe has continued to be used among the German people. In fact, “Zehe” is still a reasonably common surname in the country today, particularly in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria.
Although the precise origin of the name Zehe is unknown, some believe that it may have come from a nickname that probably described the physical appearance of an individual. Other scholars have suggested that the name may have been derived from an occupational title, for example a thin rope maker, or from a habitational name.
Overall, the Zehe surname is an intriguing one that has a strong German cultural heritage. Despite the lack of clarity about its etymology, it is still a unique family name that has been passed down over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisZehe: Where does the name Zehe come from?
The last name Zehe is quite common throughout much of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also found in a few isolated regions of France, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, as well as parts of the United States and Canada.
In Germany, Zehe is the 48th most common last name in the country, found in the regions of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg and Lower Saxony in particular. In Austria, it is the 90th most common last name, with the state of Upper Austria having the highest concentration of Zehes.
In the US, records show that the Zehe name originated in Pennsylvania, where 40 people with the last name Zehe currently live. They are scattered throughout the United States, but many are located in Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and California.
In Canada, the last name Zehe is most prevalent in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, with a much lower concentration in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
The last name Zehe is derived from the Middle High German ‘zehe’, meaning ‘yoke’. It is thought that it may have been originally a nickname for a person who looked like they could carry a yoke, or a surname given to a person who worked with yokes. Other variations of the last name include Zeh, Zehele, Zehel, Zeheler, and Zeheler.
Variations of the surname Zehe
The surname Zehe is an occupational name that originates from the Latin word ‘seges’, which means ‘harvest’ or ‘harvesting’. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved in several spelling variations, including Zeh, Zeha, Zehle, Zehling, Zehnger, Zehl, Zehlendorf, and Zehler.
Another variant of this surname is Zaihe. This variant is rarely found in German, but is more prevalent in areas such as Austria and Austria-Hungary. The variant is derived from the Latin name Saeus, which was of Germanic origin.
The surname Zehren is also related to the surname Zehe, and is believed to originate from the Old Germanic name Zentmar. This surname is most commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It is believed to have been derived from the Latin phrase centum aratrum, which literally means “one hundred plow teams.”
Variations of the Zehe surname in other countries include Zehringer in Switzerland, Seher in Norway, Zehre in Hungary, Zehr in the Czech Republic, Cesareo or Cesari in Italy, Zeheren in Sweden, Zele in the Netherlands, and Zeye in France.
In the United States, the surname Zehe is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Common spelling variations found in the United States include Zehren, Zehr, Zeha, Zehringer, Zehler, Zehlendorf, and Zeh.
Famous people with the name Zehe
- Matthew Zehe, an American actor from Mansfield, Ohio.
- Kacie Zehe, American former professional soccer player and assistant women's soccer coach at Lewis & Clark College.
- William C. Zehe, American Vietnam veteran, professor and department chair of Industrial Engineering Mechanic at Tennessee Tech University.
- Martin Zehe, a German professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Jahn Regensburg.
- Darrin Zehe, an editor, photographer and producer from Omaha, Nebraska.
- Jennifer Zehe, a track & field athlete who competes in the 400m hurdles.
- Gunther Zehe, a former basketball player and coach from Germany.
- Janina Zehe, a German slalom canoer who competed in the mid-2000s.
- Joanna Zehe, a graduate student in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Richard Zehe, noted for serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.