Surname Hanreich - Meaning and Origin
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Hanreich: What does the surname Hanreich mean?
The last name Hanreich is of Germanic origin and is believed to have first appeared in Franconia, Upper Bavaria and Bohemia in the Medieval period. It is believed to derive from the Old German words "hann" or "haner", meaning "lord", and "reich", meaning "power" or "realm". The name may have originally been taken on by a landed aristocrat in the area, or by someone who served a lord as a tenant.
The Hanreich last name is found mainly in Austria, Germany, and Hungary today. Those with the name tend to hail from one of the Germanic states and from the region known as German East-Central Europe.
The name is unique and dignified, and is seen as being indicative of an important individual or family. It is believed that those with the Hanreich moniker have at some point held a notable amount of social and economic prominence.
Since the name translates to "lord of the realm", it carries a certain sense of dignity and respect. The name was originally held by an aristocrat who had the power and means to be able to influence and manipulate the environment around them. These individuals were seen as influential and powerful in their respective communities.
The name is still used today by many of those descended from the original Hanreich family, carrying with it the same sense of influence and POWER that it did hundreds of years ago.
Order DNA origin analysisHanreich: Where does the name Hanreich come from?
The surname Hanreich is found mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, mostly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and other parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is a name of French origin deriving from the old French word “hanrai” which originated from the German word “hanreich”, which means “The Realm of God”. The Hanreichs were an important Jewish family in Vienna and across Europe who were successful merchants and bankers, as well as Honorary Court Jews to the Habsburg monarchy.
Despite their prominent positions, the family was persecuted during the Nazi occupation and many of them were killed in concentration camps. After the war, many of the survivors immigrated to the United States and other countries and the name can still be found in places such as Israel, UK, Canada, and Australia. It is still relatively common in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, though.
Today, the Hanreich name is rarely used as a first name, but is often found in family names, notably the surname of American rabbi Benjamin Hanreich. It is also found in 17th-century church records or as an ethnic or racial designation in genealogical records.
Variations of the surname Hanreich
The surname Hanreich is an ancient surname originating from Germany, where it is often spelled Hannreich or Hanreich. It is derived from the German word “hann” which means a bear, indicating that the original bearer of the surname was likely a bear tamer. Variants and spellings of the surname include Hanrich, Hanrych, Hannrich, Hannrich, Hanrech, Hanreck, Hanreick, Hanreickh, Hanruch, Hanrick, Hahnrich, Hahnreich and Hahnreichh. In some cases, due to spelling variations or immigration, the surnames Hanrich and Hahnrich may be used interchangeably. The English version of Hanreich can be spelled Hanrych.
Surnames of the same origin as Hanreich include Hannes, Hannesen, Hannessen, Hannessen, Hannesser, Hannsser, Henrichs, Henricks, Henrigk, Henrik, and the Hungarian variation Hnnrich.
The surname Hanreich may also be the origin of various patronymic surnames, such as Hanreiter (son of Han), Hannner (descendant of Han), Hannerbach (small stream of Han), Hannerman (man of Han), Hannesdorf (Han's village), and Hanninger (descendant of Han).
In some cases, the surname Hanreich may also be transformed into the occupational surname Hantamer, derived from the German word “hantaymer” meaning bear tamer.
Overall, the German surname Hanreich is derived from the word “hann” meaning bear and there are numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origins associated with this surname.
Famous people with the name Hanreich
- Eva Hanreich: Gran Prix dressage rider, regarded as one of the most successful dressage riders in the world.
- Erwin Hanreich: Professional volleyball player, representing Germany in the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World League and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
- Kurt Hanreich: Professional tennis player, achieving 18 titels during his career and representing Germany in the Davis Cup Final in 1969.
- Fritz Hanreich: Writer and cultural theorist credited for his work on modern and post-modern culture.
- Karen Hanreich: International figure skating champion who won the Gold Medal at the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo.
- Karl Hanreich: Accountant and business executive who worked for large companies such as Procter & Gamble and IBM.
- Robert Hanreich: Automotive engineer and co-founder of the German company Wiesmann Automobile which produces hand-built cars.
- Viktor Hanreich: Physicist and university professor specializing in quantum physics. He received several awards for his lifetime achievements in physics.
- Artur Hanreich: Musician and composer most famous for inventing the electronic instrument Moog.
- Astrid Hanreich: Graphic designer and illustrator, winner of the Design Award of Europe and several other international awards for her work.