Surname Ekkardt - Meaning and Origin

Ekkardt: What does the surname Ekkardt mean?

The last name Ekkardt is a German-language surname, which primarily originates from the Germanic regions of Central and Northern Europe. It is believed to be derived from the old Germanic personal name Eckhard, meaning "brave edge". The name is derived from two separate words, "eck," which means corner, and "hard," meaning hard or tough.

The early historical records of the name reveal that it first originated in what is now modern-day Germany, where it was in use from at least the eleventh century. It is reported that the first record of the Ekkardt name is found in extant records of Bavaria from circa 1070 AD. Typically, the Ekkardt surname is borne by individuals of Germanic descent, particularly in the northern regions of what is now Germany.

The Ekkardt surname is common throughout Germany, and to a lesser extent, other parts of Northern Europe. The spread of the surname to other areas is believed to be a reflection of the migration of people in the region during times of conflict and upheaval. Commonly, it is found in records of people who had migrated across borders to countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway as well as other parts of Europe such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Ekkardt surname has become well known throughout the centuries and is now found in many variations, including Ek, Eck, Ekard, Eckard, Eke, and Ecker. It is an appropriate name to represent those with Germanic heritage, particularly those from northern Germanic regions.

Ekkardt: Where does the name Ekkardt come from?

Ekkardt is a German surname that is rarely seen today. It was more common in the 19th and early 20th centuries when there were large populations of German-speaking people in Europe. The name is derived from Eckard which is a German personal name meaning ‘brave and hardy’.

In the early 20th century, many German-speaking people emigrated to the United States and other parts of the world, and so the name Ekkardt can be found outside of Europe. In the United States, the states with higher concentrations of the name include New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. In the last century, the name has been more rarely seen in the original German form.

The name can also be found in other countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia. It is seen less often in these countries, however, and typically in a more Anglicised form, such as Eckard.

Today, it is a fairly rare name overall. There are fewer than 1,000 people with the name Ekkardt living in the United States. It is a fascinating name with an intriguing backstory which is indicative of the wider history of German people around the world.

Variations of the surname Ekkardt

The surname Ekkardt can be spelled in many different ways. Variations of the name include: Eckart, Eckhardt, Ekkard, Ekkards, Ecochard and Ecot.

Eckart is the most common spelling of the surname. It is a German name derived from the Middle High German word eckard, meaning "strong". The name was popular throughout the middle ages, and many people with the surname migrated to other parts of Europe.

Eckhardt is a surname derived from the same Middle High German roots. It is a combination of eck, meaning "ailed" and hard, meaning "hard".

Ekkard is a Scandinavian variation of the name, derived from Old Norse roots and believed to mean "strong of heart".

Ekkards is a variation of Ekkard, found in French-speaking countries.

Echoard is a variation found predominantly in France.

Ecot is a variation of the name found in Italy.

In addition to being spelled differently, there are a few surnames of the same origin. These include Eck, Eckman, Ecker, Eckerson, and Eckstein.

The most common spelling of the name is Eckart, however variations include Eckhardt, Ekkard, Ekkards, Ecochard, and Ecot. The name is derived from the Middle High German roots with meanings ranging from "strong" to "aileed hard". There are also a few surnames derived from the same origin such as Eck, Eckman, Ecker, Eckerson, and Eckstein.

Famous people with the name Ekkardt

• Vilmos Ekkardt: Hungarian water polo player who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
• Karl Ekkardt: Austrian rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Stephen Ekkardt: American film and television composer.
• Wolf von Ekkardt: German Brigadier General during World War II.
• Werner Ekkardt: West German handball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Ulrike Ekkardt: German sprint canoer who competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
• Hans-Jürgen Ekkardt: German sailor who competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Viktor Ekkardt: German bobsledder who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Hannelore Ekkardt: German handball player who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Georg Ekkardt: German engraver of coins and medals in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Other surnames

Ekkart