Surname Dornheim - Meaning and Origin
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Dornheim: What does the surname Dornheim mean?
The surname Dornheim is a German occupational surname that originated from the Middle High German word ‘thornheim’. The surname literally translates to ‘thurmheim’, which can be interpreted as ‘thorn-home’ or ‘home of the thorns’. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was the head of a household living on a property that was overgrown with thorn bushes.
Family members bearing the Dornheim surname can be found residing in various German-speaking nations such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. The first documented instance of the Dornheim surname is listed in the archives of the German town of Ingersheim as far back as the year 1330, where it is recorded as the name of a witness during a land settlement negotiation.
The literal translation of the Dornheim surname can be seen to have significant spiritual significance. In Christianity, a thorn bush typically represents the struggles of mortality endured by Jesus Christ. This indicates that the original Dornheim family were perhaps deeply religious, and possibly chose to name their estate after a motif that they held in deep religious regard.
Since its origin in the Middle Ages, the Dornheim surname has evolved into multiple variations such as Thurnam, Thurn, Thürnem and Tornheim. Each of these variations has a slightly altered spelling, pronunciation or iconography, however they all still refer to the same Middle High German root word of ‘thornheim’.
Order DNA origin analysisDornheim: Where does the name Dornheim come from?
The last name Dornheim is primarily common today in Germany. Historically, the Dornheim family was spread across Saxony, Lower Saxony, and Thuringia. Most of Dornheims went to the United States towards the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries in search of work and a better life.
The highest concentration of Dornheims today is still found in Germany, in particular in Lower Saxony. Here, some areas including Uelzen, Schneverdingen, Langenhagen, Cuxhaven, and Diepholz all have a high level of Dornheims.
In the United States, the highest concentration is found in Wisconsin and Texas. Again, the majority of those with the Dornheim surname arrived in the US in the late 1800s and early 1900s from Germany.
A very small number of Dornheims have now spread out to other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe.
However, the majority of the Dornheims are still concentrated in Germany and the US, making these two countries the main homes for the Dornheim family today.
Variations of the surname Dornheim
The surname Dornheim has numerous variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some common versions include Dornhaim, Dornheimm, Dornhyme, Dornheimme, Dornheym, Dornheymme, Dornhym, and Dornheimme. The variants stem from the German language, meaning "dweller of the thorn".
Dornheim is also a settlement in three regions of the same name. It is listed in numerous historical records, including the Catholic Diocese of Hamburg and the German churches from 1245-1863.
The variants are also spread throughout central Europe, with holdings in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. There are also records of the surname Dornheim in Upper and Lower Bavaria.
In addition, Dornheim is associated with numerous spellings in other languages. The Polish form is Dornheimy, while the Hungarian version is Ördöngöm. The Dutch variant is spelling is Dornhem and the Swedish is Dornhem.
Many immigrants of this surname can be found in the United States, as they often changed the spelling to Dornheimer. This version appears more commonly in newspaper records, and is the version you would see in the 1880 US census.
Those of the Dornheim surname are often associated with the middle and upper classes of society, as many of the profession titles of the Dornheimers in the late 18th century included count or baron. The Dornheimers have been present throughout European history, and you can find records of the surname as early as the 12th century.
Famous people with the name Dornheim
- Alexander Dornheim: German film director.
- Michael Dornheim: American film producer.
- Amy Dornheim: American digital media executive.
- Anne Dornheim: German theatre director.
- Harald Dornheim: Austrian footballer who played in three World Cup tournaments.
- Heinrich Dornheim: German social and economic historian.
- Helmut Dornheim: German botanist.
- Jörg Dornheim: German journalist and publicist.
- Lou Dornheim: American novelist.
- Ralf Dornheim: German writer.
- Stephen Dornheim: American actor.
- Sandra Dornheim: German short film director.
- Reinhard Dornheim: German entrepreneur and businessman.
- Paul Dornheim: German rower who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Gustave Dornheim: Swiss physicist and astronomer.
- Simon Dornheim: German actor who appeared in various films from 1912-1941.
- Lutz Dornheim: German engineer.
- Hans Dornheim: German zoologist
- Udo Dornheim: German artist and illustrator.
- Sebastian Dornheim: German sprint canoeist.