Surname Hangarter - Meaning and Origin

Hangarter: What does the surname Hangarter mean?

The last name Hangarter is of German origin and is derived from an early medieval personal name, Hansgarth. According to the House of Names website, the name is composed of two elements - Hans (a short form of Johannes) and Garth (a reference to a garden, farm or enclosure). The name, and alternate spellings such as Hangarter, Hanggarter, and Hangarth, likely indicated either a person of considerable wealth (i.e. someone who owned or occupied a large estate) or a worker on an estate, such as a gardener or farmer.

Hangarter is one of hundreds of German surnames that originated during the Middle Ages and were found largely in the areas surrounding Bavaria, Alsace, and Prussia. During this time, local populations were migrating and changing, so the use of a last name or “family name” gave people a sense of identity and helped differentiate them from others.

Today, Hangarter is still present in various parts of Europe, with some immigrant families migrating and settling in other countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a legacy of its German roots, the name is now especially associated with German culture and traditionally German values such as hard work, respect, and loyalty. The Hangarter name is also found among people with Jewish heritage, as many people changed their family names to fit in with their adoptive country after a wave of migration in the Middle Ages.

Hangarter: Where does the name Hangarter come from?

The last name Hangarter is most commonly found throughout Germany and Austria. It is also known to occur in other countries across Europe, such as the Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. According to statistics, the highest population of people with the Hangarter surname live in Germany, where it is one of the most common surnames.

In the United States, however, the Hangarter name is far less common. There are still some families with the Hangarter last name in the United States, but they are much rarer than in Europe. According to the US Census Bureau, there were only 42 people registered with the Hangarter name in 2010.

The Hangarter name is more closely associated with Germany and Austria, where it is thought to has been present since as early as the 15th century. It is believed to have originated from the word ‘hagen’, meaning 'a fence or small fence within a village'.

The Hangarter name continues to be one of the most common surnames in Germany and Austria, and it is likely to remain that way for many years to come. It is possible to find Hangarters all around the world, even though some countries have a larger concentration of them than others.

Variations of the surname Hangarter

Hangarter is an uncommon surname, mostly found in Germany, Austria, and other countries of German origin. The spelling variations of this surname include Hangarter, Hangarter, Hengarter, Hangartner, Hengartner, Hangardner, Hangarder, Hengardner, Hangardtner, Hangardt, and Hengardt.

The surname Hangarter originated from two similar sounding Middle High German words - han and hane - which had the same meaning, that of a male animal, a rooster. Thus, the name may have been originally a nickname for someone who had a resemblance to a rooster.

Among the earliest known recorded bearers of the Hangarter surname in the year 1351 was Hans Hangarder of Grubersdorf in Sachsen, Germany. Other early records of the Hangarter surname are closely related variants that were found in the areas of Franconia, Bayern, and Thuringen in Germany. It appears that the name was prominent in the southern parts of Germany and gradually spread over to the lower regions of Austria.

The Hangarter surname is said to be an occupational surname likely derived from the Middle High German term “hangarder” that referred to a hunter employed by a lord or estate to hunt game such as deer, hares or wild boar. It is possible that some of the Hangarters may have chosen to adopt the name as a result of their occupation rather than it being an inherited family name.

The Hangarter surname may have also been used by families who lived near a clear district such as a “Hangarten”. Such places are very common in Germany and Austria, so it’s possible the name was used to differentiate between families from the same area.

Overall, the Hangarter surname has many variants and a long history that can be traced back to the Middle High German period.

Famous people with the name Hangarter

• Fred Hangarter: Grammy-winning record engineer
• Tad Hangarter: Country Music Hall of Fame inducted songwriter
• Hans Hangarter: Greek-Swiss businessman and politician
• Billie Hangarter: Jigsaw puzzle creator
• Charlie Hangarter: Racecar driver
• Matias Hangarter: Argentinian football player
• Johanna Hangarter: German-American actress
• Eli Hangarter: Musician and record producer
• Krista Hangarter: Female powerlifter
• Devon Hangarter: Chef and restaurateur

Other surnames

Hangartner