Surname Hegermann - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hegermann: What does the surname Hegermann mean?
The last name Hegermann is an old German name with a long and interesting history. It is believed to have derived from 'Hege-man', which was an old German word meaning 'holder of the hedges'. This could mean either a resident who protected the village boundaries or its hedges on horseback, or could refer to someone who worked as a gamekeeper and keeper of the forests in the same capacity. The Hegermann surname eventually became a recognizable German noble name, and was typically linked to a particular area of Germany.
The Hegermanns have held a noble presence in Germany for centuries, with various branches popping up around the country. The name itself is derived from the old German word 'Hege-man', meaning basal secular nobility— someone who held their lands in service to the emperor, yet maintained their own lordship. This hege-man was used as an administrative rank by medieval kings and princes in Germany and Switzerland.
The modern family crest and coat of arms associated with the name Hegermann indicates that many of the Hegermanns descended from a certain Johann Hegermann von Lüdinghausen, a retired cavalry officer and landowner in the late 16th and early 17th century. He was a respected and influential man in his day, and his influence and legacy lives on through the many branches of the Hegermanns.
Order DNA origin analysisHegermann: Where does the name Hegermann come from?
Hegermann is a surname originating from Norway and is thought to have arisen from the Germanic name ‘Hege’, meaning ‘active’ or ‘energetic’. Because of Norway’s strong historical ties with other European countries, this surname is now found in countries such as Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
Today, Hegermann remains one of the most common surnames in Norway, with tens of thousands of people bearing the name across the country. It is also fairly common in Sweden, where it ranks amongst the top 1,000 surnames. Within the northern countries of Europe, the highest density of Hegermann-surnamed people can be found in Denmark, where the name is amongst the country’s top 140 most frequent surnames.
In the United States, the surname Hegermann is much less common and not included in the Social Security Administration’s list of top surnames. Data analysis shows that the majority of people with this name in the United States are of Nordic descent, mostly of Norwegian origin.
Overall, Hegermann is more common in northern European countries, particularly Norway and Denmark, than anywhere else in the world. It can also be found in other countries around the world, particularly those with strong historical links to Norway.
Variations of the surname Hegermann
The surname Hegermann is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German name Hegerman, which translates to “man of war”, or “warrior”. It has a variety of spellings and related surnames, including Hägermann, Hegerman, Heggerman, Hegemann, Heggemann, Hegermann, Heigmaan, Hegewald, Heggen, and Hegen.
The various spellings of the Hegermann surname can be traced back to the 15th century, when it was most commonly associated with soldiers in the Holy Roman Empire. The surname was most common in Germany’s Rhineland region, as well as present-day Netherlands and Denmark.
The variant spelling Heggen is generally adopted by those with ties to the province of Westphalia in Germany. The spelling Hegewald, on the other hand, is found in the Bavarian region.
The surname Hegermann is also found among the family trees of given names such as Hagemann, Hegmann, and Hegemann. The related surname Hegemann is found among families with roots in Norway.
The surname Hege is an unrelated name, with its own unique meaning and origin. Hege is a habitational surname derived from either Bavaria or the western part of Austria’s Tyrol, originating from the Old High German word haka, which means "hook" or "bend". The variant spelling Heawan is also found.
Overall, the Hegermann surname has a variety of forms and spellings, as well as related surnames originating from Germany and Scandinavian countries. It remains a popular surname among those with German or Eastern European heritage.
Famous people with the name Hegermann
- Grethe Hegermann-Lindencrone (1867-1953): Danish actress, singer and comedian, known widely throughout Europe in her time.
- Bente Hegermann-Lindencrone (1900-1987): Danish actress, dancer and singer, daughter of Grethe Hegermann-Lindencrone and niece of the Countess Geprge Charlotte Hegermann-Lindencrone.
- Dronning Maud Charlotte Hegermann-Lindencrone (1851-1926): Danish Countess, sister-in-law of King Olaf of Norway and actress.
- Jon Harald Hegermann-Lindencrone (1809-1890): Danish Admiral who led the Dano-Norwegian navy in their resistance against the second war with Sweden.
- Frederik Christian Hegermann-Lindencrone (1789-1871): Danish politician, admiral and high court judge.
- Christopher Hegermann (born 1968): German singer, actor, and musician who is part of the comedic duo Die Hegermann's.
- Marcel Hegermann (born 1939): German-American theologian and historian, author of multiple books on early Christianity.
- Walter Hegermann (1890-1977): German missionary mostly known for the work he had done organizing the first German Mormon mission in Berlin.