Surname Hägner - Meaning and Origin
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Hägner: What does the surname Hägner mean?
The last name Hägner is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word haegen, meaning "hisher". The name is most commonly encountered as a surname in Germany, although it is also common in other parts of Europe and the United States. The earliest recorded instance of the surname in Germany dates back to 1585, in the records of Freiburg im Breisgau.
The original bearer of the surname was presumably someone whose occupation centered around raising or keeping animals. This is because the root of the surname likely has its origin in the Middle High German word haeggen, which means "a keeper of animals". In this sense, the surname serves as an occupational name, as did many in the Middle Ages.
In modern times, the last name Hägner is most often found in the United States, Germany, and Austria, although there are also many occurrences in other countries. It is notable that the spelling of the name in many countries varies with region: in Germany, the surname is traditionally spelled “Hägner” but, in English-speaking countries, it is more often encountered as “Hagner”.
No matter how it is spelled, the last name Hägner has been in use since at least the 16th century, symbolizing the occupation of its original bearer.
Order DNA origin analysisHägner: Where does the name Hägner come from?
The last name Hägner is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, but it can also be seen in other nations like Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France.
The name Hägner is of German origin and is derived from a Middle High German word meaning “hedge” or “enclosure”. It likely referred to someone who lived in an enclosed area, or who worked as a hedge layer.
The use of surnames in Germany is believed to have been established in the 12th century and the Hägner name is thought to have first appeared in the late 17th century. There is also evidence of the name being used in France from the early 18th century.
Recent census data shows that the highest concentrations of Hägner families are in Germany and Austria. In Germany, the most common states to find the surname are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Bavaria has the highest instance with 1 in 896 and Baden-Württemberg with 1 in 1411. Baden-Württemberg is the only state in Germany where the name is more common than average.
In Austria, the states with the highest frequency of the surname are Styria and Vienna where it can be found 1 in 1721 and 1 in 2177 respectively.
The name Hägner is not found in large numbers in other countries, though there are smaller numbers present there as well. For example, people bearing the Hägner surname can also be found in the Netherlands, Switzerland and France.
Variations of the surname Hägner
The surname Hägner is of German origin and has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the name is Haeger, with other variations including Hager, Häger, Haegler, Häegler, Hagner, Haegner, Haegen, Heygner, and Hagnen.
The Hägner spelling is commonly found in Germany, while Haeger and Hager are seen regularly in the United States. The spelling tends to vary depending on the country or region of origin.
The surname Hägner is derived from the Middle High German word “hag”, which means hedge or enclosure. A person with the surname Hägner may have worked as a fence mender or builder, as well as tending to animals kept in fences and enclosures.
Variations of the Hägner surname can also be found in other countries, such as Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria. In Sweden, the surname is recorded as Hager, Hagner and Hagenstrom. In Denmark, the name is seen as Haegner, Hagner or Haeger. In the Netherlands, variations include Hagenaar, Hagendijk and Hageman. In Austria, it is spelled as Haeger, Haegler and Hagner.
Although the origins of the surname Hägner may differ from country to country, the meaning of the name is the same everywhere: someone who maintained fences and enclosures.
Famous people with the name Hägner
- Markus Hägner: German actor, best known for his roles in the films “Der letzte Zug” and “Der Vater meiner besten Freundin”.
- Andreas Hägner: German footballer who played for FC Augsburg, Hertha BSC and other clubs.
- Ben Hägner: British historian, author and lecturer, best known for his works on modern British and European history.
- Robert Hägner: Austrian-American physicist and inventor, known for his work in quantum optics and photonics.
- Wilhelm Hägner: German jurist, professor, and politician who served as a Minister of the Interior in the Weimar Republic.
- Johann Hägner: Austrian operatic baritone and academic teacher at the Vienna Conservatory.
- Cristoph Hägner: Austrian professional sailor and two-time Olympian in sailing.
- Brigitte Hägner: German film producer and director, known for her documentary films about the European Union.
- Philipp Hägner: German architect and landscape designer who won the Goldener Marchpfeil Award in 2017.
- Sabine Hägner: German alpine skier who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.