Surname Erth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Erth: What does the surname Erth mean?
The last name Erth is an interesting and unique surname with a variety of possible origins. One claim suggests that the name comes from a root word meaning 'Earth'. This could be indicative of the original holder of the name having had some connection to land, farming, and occupancy of the land. Alternatively, the name could derive from 'Erde', a German word of similar definition. This could be indicative of Germanic ancestry among the Erth family.
A more contemporary understanding of the name Erth is tied to its association with the German region of Erfurt. It is conceivable that the family was once native to the area and chose to reflect their origin with the adoptive surname, Erth. In addition, as Erfurt was an important garrison town in olden times, it is also possible the name was taken as a way of showing military service.
The name Erth could also have come from a Slavic origin, derived from 'ojciec' meaning father. This ties in with the family likely being of peasantry origin, in which naming from this place of origin would have been relatively commonplace.
Beyond these common interpretations, the name Erth could also have been derived from another still buried in obscurity. Without further research, or some form of traceable documented origin, the definitive etymology of Erth is tainted in mystery and would remain to be explored.
Order DNA origin analysisErth: Where does the name Erth come from?
The last name Erth is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It is also quite prevalent in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. According to the 1990 United States Census, Erth was the 1,198th most common last name in the country.
Erth is an occupational surname, given to people who worked in the mining industry or had a profession related to minerals such as prospectors or mineral traders. It is derived from the German verb erden, erd meaning soil or ground, which describes a literal shaking of the earth.
The same surname can also be found in other countries, including Sweden, France, England, Ireland, and the United States. This suggests that, while it might have initially been an occupational name only found in German-speaking regions, people with the last name Erth began to emigrate to these countries in the nineteenth century.
Today, many people with the surname Erth are still working in the mining industry around the world. In the United States, members of the Erth family are prominent names in the coal mining community, and many of them hold keys positions in the coal mining industry.
In general, it seems that the last name Erth is still quite common in some areas of the world, namely in Germany and some regions of the United States. However, the further one goes from these areas, the less common the name becomes.
Variations of the surname Erth
Erth is a surname of Germanic origin and can be spelled in several different ways, including Earth, Erde, and Erdt. Variants of the name include Ert, Ertmann, Ertl, Erthmann, Erthle, Erthlemann, Ertlle, and Ertllemann.
The name has some historical roots, and at one point was a rather common one in Germany. It used to be a German habit to add suffixes to surnames, and Erth once was one of those. This is why variants appearing with a double ‘L’ or spelling it Erdt are so common.
Erth as a surname experienced a period of popularity in the United States due to many Europeans migrating there at the turn of the century. During this time it was also adopted by some African Americans through intermarriage.
Today the name is particularly common in the United States, although some people with the surname may still be found in the German region of Schleswig-Holstein. The variant spellings and surnames correspond to many different places where members of this family once resided, like Germany, the United States, and even Canada.
Famous people with the name Erth
- Ben Erth: Producer and photographer who was born and raised in Poland, and moved to the US in 1997.
- Annabeth Erth: US-based singer and song writer as well as a leading force in the Elvis tribute artist scene.
- Libby Erth: UK molecular biologist and Science Communicator whose research focuses on ancient DNA.
- Paul Erth: Multi-instrumentalist living in Glasgow, Scotland who has worked with many bands and solo projects.
- Emma Erth: Canadian actor and comedian whose work has been featured on the CBC radio show ‘The Debaters’.
- Steven Erth: American film and television director and producer whose work includes ‘Lizzie McGuire’ and ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’.
- Alex Erth: Ghanaian record producer, songwriter, and vocalist, whose work includes collaborating with world-renowned artist Common.
- Blake Erth: Actor and dancer who’s appeared in the movies ‘The Newsroom’ and ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’.
- Martin Erth: UK-based author and musician best known for his novel ‘The Last Will and Testament of Martin Erth’.
- Goldstein Erth: British DJ and music producer mostly known for his ‘Ghetto Funk’ mix series.