Surname Ehhalt - Meaning and Origin
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Ehhalt: What does the surname Ehhalt mean?
The last name 'Ehhalt' is a German name meaning 'shield', which is derived from the German word for 'helmet'. The surname was likely adopted as a means of self-identification, with the intention of distinguishing different families from one another.
Originally, shields were highly-valued possessions in German-speaking territories since the Middle Ages. A sturdy shield was not only beneficial for protection on the battlefield but could be a mark of honour and respect. It was a sign of strength and dignity. In this sense, the name Ehhalt could be seen as a reflection of these values of strength and dignity.
Today, the last name Ehhalt is found throughout Germany, and has spread beyond German-speaking countries and to North America. With such a strong and meaningful connection to an important part of German heritage and culture, it's no surprise that the name has been passed down and kept alive for generations. The meaning behind the name 'Ehhalt' continues to inspire pride in those who bear the name, and serves as a reminder of its noble history.
Order DNA origin analysisEhhalt: Where does the name Ehhalt come from?
The last name Ehhalt (or Ehalt, Ehalts, Ehaltz, Ehalte) is a German name which is mainly found in the regions of Alsace and Lorraine in France, in the area along the German-French border.
It is believed that Ehhalt is derived from the Middle High German Ehwald. This suggests that it was originally a locational name, likely referring to a person from Ewald, Germany which is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Over time the ending 'wald' was dropped and replaced with 'halt', Germen for field, so that the name eventually became Ehalt.
The distribution of the names suggests that it was more widespread in Germany as it appears in other regions such as Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. However, it is now mainly common in two regions in France where there is a larger German-speaking population.
In the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine the name is still found in many towns and villages in this area. The surname is also still fairly common among the French-speaking population in these areas.
Today, anyone who has the last name Ehhalt or a variation of it can be confident that their ancestors came from this area. The name is a strong reminder of the connections between Germany and France and is a good representation of the cultural exchanges that have historically taken place between the two countries.
Variations of the surname Ehhalt
The surname Ehhalt is of German origin and appears in written records as early as the 14th century. It is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries.
Variants of the surname include: Ehalt, Ehalts, Ehholts, Eehholts, Ehhaltz, Eehaltz, Ehhaeltz, Ahalt, Ahal, Ehal, Ehalts, Ehalz, Ehholt, Ehholts, Eehholt, Ehhaelt, Ehhaltz, Eehaltz, Ahehalt and Aehaelt.
Spelling variations of the surname include Ehehalt, Aehalt, Ehalt, Ehalz, Ehholt, and Ehholts.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ehhalt are very similar to surnames that have origins in other parts of Europe such as Ahehalt (of Latin origin), Aehalt (of Danish origin, Ehaltz (of Austrian origin), Ehholt (of German origin), Ehholts (of Dutch origin), and Eehaltz (of Swiss origin).
Additional spellings for the surname include Ehehalt, Ehehltz, Ehal, Aehaltz, Ehholt, Ehholts, and Eehholt. The surname is also seen in various spellings of similar surnames, such as Ehaltz and Ehhaeltz.
Surnames with a similar origin are Ehaltz, Ehhaelt, Ehhalz, Ehihalt, Ehlts, and Ehohlts.
In Germany, the surname is often written with an umlaut (two dots over the vowel), making the surname look like Ehhält, Ehhaeltz, Ehehaltz, or Ehlts.
Famous people with the name Ehhalt
- Robert Ehhalt: German composer, lyricist, and orchestrator
- Jon Ehhalt: American jazz pianist
- Mike Ehhalt: American ice hockey player
- Richard Ehhalt: German painter
- Rebecca Ehhalt: American journalist
- Robert Ehhalt Jr.: American photographer
- Marcus Ehhalt: Austrian political scientist
- Douglas J. Ehhalt: American professor of chemistry
- Günther Ehhalt: Austrian chemist
- Sabine Ehhalt: Austrian actress
- Uwe Ehhalt: German environmental scientist
- Dirk Ehhalt: German composer
- George Ehhalt: Younger brother of slain civil rights pioneer
- Kurt Ehhalt: Austrian author and publisher
- Jörg Ehhalt: German journalist and editor
- Leo Ehhalt: American entrepreneur
- Ruth Ehhalt-Gilman: American artist
- Anton Ehhalt: Former controller of Siemens AG Slovakia
- Jacques Ehhalt: French painter
- Ulrich Ehhalt: German former footballer