Surname Harfst - Meaning and Origin
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Harfst: What does the surname Harfst mean?
The last name Harfst is a German surname that is thought to have originated in northern Germany during the Middle Ages. The name Harfst is derived from the Middle High German word 'harfst', meaning 'autumn', symbolizing the falling of leaves in the season. The name Harfst is likely a locational name, referring to someone from a place called Harfst.
The Harfst family is believed to have originated in the area near the modern-day town of Herford, Germany, located in the North West of Germany near modern-day Rhineland-Palatinate. Records suggest that the first known recorded member of the Harfst family was Johannes Harfst, b. in 1545 in Herford, Germany.
The Harfst surname is still present in Germany today, with records suggesting that there are around 500 Harfsts living in Germany currently. It is also found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In summary, the surname Harfst is believed to have originated in northern Germany from the Middle High German word for 'autumn'. It is thought to be locational name, referring to someone from Harfst. The first recorded Harfst is Johannes Harfst, b. in 1545 in Herford, Germany. The name is still present in Germany and other countries around the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisHarfst: Where does the name Harfst come from?
The last name Harfst is most likely found in Germany. It is a variant of the German surname Harfst, which derived from the Old Germanic name Harbarsast. This name is thought to have originated somewhere between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, which was around the time of the taifa kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula.
Today, Harfst is an extremely common surname in Germany. According to the genealogy website Genesreunited.co.uk, Harfst is the 1,091st most common surname in all of Germany. The most heavily concentrated regions for Harfst are in Bavaria, Berlin, and Baden-Württemberg.
Due to 19th century and early 20th century German emigration, large numbers of people with the last name Harfst immigrated to the United States, too. Now, the name is not as common in the US, but is still found in certain areas such as Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
In conclusion, Harfst is a German surname with roots in the late 13th to early 14th centuries. It is most common today in Germany and in certain areas of the United States.
Variations of the surname Harfst
The surnames Harfst, Harpst, and Harpstede are all variations of a single surname originating from Germany. The name Harfst is thought to have roots in the old German words “harf” meaning “lance,” and “stede” meaning “place or estate,” suggesting the original bearer of the name was likely a person of noble status in charge of a lance-bearing unit of soldiers.
The spelling of the surname underwent variations through the ages, and today the variant spellings, Harpst and Harpstede, are both well-known versions of the original Harfst surname. The Harpst spelling is also commonly found in the United States, while the Harpstede spelling is mainly found in Germany and parts of northern Europe.
The variants of the Harfst surname all share the same roots. However, they may have been established by different branches of the family, or evolved over time due to migration of family members, dialects, and migration of the language itself.
The surname Harfst, drop its ending, is also thought to be an alternate spelling of the medieval German first name Harf, which was an occupational name meaning "hound keeper." It is possible that the Harfst surname could have been originally a nickname for an animal handler or dog trainer. This may explain why the name is still common today in Germany, where the occupation of dog training continues to be popular.
Lastly, it has recently been suggested that the Harfst surname may evolved from the Old German male given name Hartfrid or Hartmut. In this case, the name may have been derived from the Old German words “hart” meaning “hardy” or “strong” and “frid” or “mut” meaning “courageous.”
No matter their origin, all variants of the Harfst surname share the same ancient roots. Although spelled differently, each Harfst surname is connected to a shared history and culture. As such, they continue to be a sign of the familial ties of those who carry them.
Famous people with the name Harfst
- Richard Harfst: former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).
- Vicki Harfst: popular and successful American sign language (ASL) interpreter. 3.Josh Harfst: popular American pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger.
- Hope Harfst Self: famous American sculptor best known for her internationally acclaimed marble sculptures.
- Gabrielle Harfst: German singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
- John Harfst: award-winning American avant-garde composer and sound artist.
- Chris Harfst: sought-after film composer and songwriter.
- Clemens Harfst: German journalist and author.
- David Harfst: Grammy-nominated American theater and film director.
- Octavia Harfst: American-born British novelist and short story writer.