Surname Handschuch - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Handschuch: What does the surname Handschuch mean?
The last name Handschuch is of German origin and is derived from the Old German surname Handscuh, which means "glove". It likely evolved from the occupation of glove maker, as the first known bearer of the name was recorded as a leather glove-maker in a small town in Germany during the 13th century.
Handschuch is a patronymic name, referring to the father of the bearer. The Hans prefix for this name refers to the Germanic name "Hans", which means "brave", and "scuh", which means "glove". It is likely that this name was adopted by many generations within the same family.
The name Handschuch may also have derived from the old German word "handscochen", meaning “blessing” or “sacrifice”. It is possible that bearers of the name gave thanks to their god through the sacrificial offering of a glove.
Today, Handschuch is a fairly common surname in Germany. Many of its bearers have come to the United States and other locations around the world, bringing their unique name with them. Although its meaning is quite ancient, the Handschuch name remains popular throughout many areas of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHandschuch: Where does the name Handschuch come from?
The last name Handschuch is most common today in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, it is concentrated in the western and north-western regions, particularly around the states of North Rhein-Westphalia and Bavaria. According to Verwandt.de, the name is also found in the Netherlands, France, United States and Canada.
In 2020, the most recent national census listed the surname Handschuch in over 2000 households. In the United States it was far less common with only about 400 reported births between 1880 and 2020.
The name Handschuch appears to originate from ancient Germanic cultures as a surname for people engaged in the tanning of leather. Many variations of this name exist including Handshuh, Hanschuhe, Handachuhe and Hantshig. It is not impossible that the variations represent branches of the same family.
The name Handschuch has a long history in the Germanic language, with early mentions of the name traceable to around the 12th century. As the name spread across Europe and to other continents, it was frequently translated into the local languages of the area.
Today, members of the Handschuch family can be found living all over the world, from North America, Europe and to Australasia. This is evidence that the last name Handschuch continues to live on through its descendants today.
Variations of the surname Handschuch
The surname Handschuch has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Handshoe, Handshu, Handsock, Handschue, Handschu, Handshuck, Handshe, Handscock, Handschick, Handscheck, Handschugh, Handscugh, Handscag, Handschich, Handschuch, Handschug, and Handshuch.
The surname Handschuch originated from Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hondscuoche," which means "handshoes," or "carbonized hides for shoe soles." It is a topographic name for someone living near or inhabiting a bog, which is a stretch of wet ground or swampy wetland. It is also an occupational name for someone who provided
carbonized hides for shoe soles and, by extension, a name for a shomaker or leatherworker.
There is also a variant of the name, Handshue, which can be an Anglicized and Americanized form of the German, Jewish, and Croation cognomen Handshuh. This is derived from the Austrian and Bavarian Jewish surname Handshuh, an occupational name for a maker of gloves or gauntlets.
The Czech and Slovakian equivalent is Handšuk, which is a derivative word of the Middle High German word "hantšoch," meaning "hand glove." It is an occupational name for someone who made or sold gloves.
The Hungarian form of the name is Csizmásfecske, which translates to "shoe slipper" and is a topographic name for someone who lived near or had a habitation in a marsh. It is derived from the German word "csizma," which means "shoe," and the word "fecske," pertaining to a type of "sparrow."
Finally, the surname Handschuch is also encountered in Scandinavia, where it is spelled Handskuch, derived from the Old Norse personal name "Handr." It is a habitational name for someone from the farms of Handsbæk, which is located in the north of Denmark.
Famous people with the name Handschuch
- Klaus Handschuch: German Olympic champion who competed in track and field during the 1980s.
- Franz Handschuch: Austrian professional footballer.
- Paulus Handschuch: German sculpture and draughtsman.
- Michael Handschuch: Austrian journalist and television presenter.
- Simon Handschuch: Austrian professional footballer.
- Werner Handschuch: German physical geographer.
- Thomas Handschuch: Austrian fashion designer.
- Franziska Handschuch: German actress and comedian.
- Günther Handschuch: Austrian former long-distance runner.
- Ellen von Handschuch: German singer and songwriter.