Surname Aderhold - Meaning and Origin

Aderhold: What does the surname Aderhold mean?

The last name Aderhold is thought to have originated in Germany. It is a relatively uncommon name, and there are very few records of its use before the 18th century when many Aderholds emigrated to the United States.

The name Aderhold appears to be a combination of two old Germanic words, ‘Adal’ and ‘Hold’. ‘Adal’ probably comes from the Latin 'adali', meaning of noble birth and ‘Hold’ is means gentle or kind. Together, ‘Adalhold’ roughly translates as of noble birth and kind disposition.

It is possible that the name Aderhold has an even more interesting origin story. The family name could be descended from the ancient Germanic name ‘Ahdur’, meaning honourable. Therefore, Aderhold could signify a family of noble and honourable origin.

In modern times, the Aderhold name is mainly associated with former Confederate states such as Georgia and Alabama. While there are many Aderholds with Confederate records, the name may well predate the American Civil War, suggesting it crossed the Atlantic during the wave of German migration to the US in the mid-1700s.

Today, Aderhold is the name of families with diverse backgrounds. It is an interesting and unique surname with an uncertain story. But no matter the origin of the name, the Aderhold family name is a testament to their strength and integrity through hundreds of years and across many countries.

Aderhold: Where does the name Aderhold come from?

The surname Aderhold is commonly found in Germany, the United States and other English-speaking countries. It is also common in countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

In Germany, Aderhold is most frequently found in the eastern part of the country such as in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Bavaria. It is also relatively common in the German-speaking region of Hesse.

In the United States, Aderhold is most commonly found in the Midwestern states such as Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as states such as Arizona, California, and Texas.

In general, Aderhold is associated with German ancestry, although people with this name are found across the world in many areas today. It is also likely that this surname is associated with Dutch or Flemish ancestry, as it is similar to many names which are common in that part of the world.

Variations of the surname Aderhold

The surname Aderhold is of German origin and is thought to derive from the Middle High German word 'Adalharz'. This name was borne by someone who lived along or by a river that was called 'Adalh' and is thought to mean 'noble'. It is also believed that this name could have come from the medieval given name 'Adalher', which was a variant of the Old High German name 'Adalheri'.

Variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Aderhold can include:

Adair, Adalheer, Adalher, Adalheri, Addair, Adelhard, Adelhardt, Adelharz, Adelher, Adelheri, Aderholt, Adderhold, Adir, Atha, Athaer.

There are also various spelling variants of the surname, some of which are Adair, Addair, Adair, Adelharz, Aderhold, Adherholt, Adelher, Adir, Atha, and Adalheri.

In other cases, the surname can appear as an alternative/variant form of the name Adir—a Hebrew masculine given name; unrelated to the German variant—Adherhold, which means 'God has commanded.'

In Scotland, the surname can also be found as a variant spelling: Adderhold.

Names of similar origin are often found in various parts of Europe, including towns in Bavaria, Germany, such as Aderholz, Adelharz, and Adelheri.

Other languages such as Dutch often have their own versions of Aderhold with spellings like Adelheid, Adelhart, and Edelhard.

Overall, the surname Aderhold has many variant spellings, surnames of the same origin, and although it is of German origin, it can be found throughout Europe, England, Scotland, and even Israel.

Famous people with the name Aderhold

• Jim Aderhold: Emmy-nominated movie and television producer who is best known for his work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 1975–1979 and the acclaimed HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
• Mark Aderhold: Professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner for the Oakland Raiders from 1983–1986.
• Jeff Aderhold: World and Olympic champion lead diver in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and balcon diver in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
• Ginny Aderhold: NASA astronaut who flew on two Space Shuttle missions (Columbia STS-60 in 1994 and Atlantis STS-76 in 1996) and worked as a mission specialist on the International Space Station Expedition 7 in 2003.
• Aaron Aderhold: Award-winning Hollywood actor who has appeared in films such as Born on the Fourth of July, Gladiator, and The Notebook.
• Richard Aderhold: Former Major General in the United States Army and Former President of the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as Vice Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1987–1991.
• Dr. Heinz Aderhold: German born Nobel Prize winning scientist known for his groundbreaking research for the quasicrystalline structure of matter.
• Tucker Aderhold: Professional basketball player who played in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs from 1996–2001.
• Brandi Aderhold: Professional golfer who was the first woman to win the British Open Golf Championship in 1995.
• Michael Aderhold: Tenured Professor of Political Science at the University of Virginia who has widely published works on campaign finance and election law.

Other surnames

AderholdtAderholtAderholz