Surname Heier - Meaning and Origin

Heier: What does the surname Heier mean?

The last name Heier is a German surname originating from the medieval personal name ‘Heier’. The given name has its roots in the Old High German words ‘heih’ meaning ‘high’, and ‘harja’, meaning ‘army’. It is connected to the phrase ‘Heier harja’, meaning ‘army of the high.’

The given name is believed to have been adopted by noble families who wanted to indicate their particularly noble pedigree. It was also used as a way to identify men in the census of Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Heier surname came to prominence in areas around Frankfurt and hessen-Rhein area, one of the earliest areas in Europe to have a significant population of Jewish people. The name can now be found scattered across Germany and in many other parts of Europe.

The surname Heier is thought to have been adopted by many immigrants to the United States in the late 1800s, and is now commonly found in the country. This is especially true of areas that had substantial influxes of German immigrants during the 19th century, such as the Midwestern states and Pennsylvania.

The name Heier carries with it a strong tradition of family, loyalty, courage, and pride. It is a reminder of the noble roots of its European origin and the hardworking immigrants who wrote their story in the United States.

Heier: Where does the name Heier come from?

The last name Heier is a relatively uncommon name, however, it is still present in many places throughout the world today.

In the United States, the last name Heier is most commonly found in the state of Wisconsin. This is likely due to the fact that many German immigrants, including several Heier families, settled in Wisconsin during the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a also a strong concentration of Heier families in Nebraska due to similar waves of German immigration.

In other countries, the last name Heier can be found in Germany, Norway, Denmark, Canada, and Australia. The name is particularly common in Germany, and may have originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate area. According to the Working Group for German Naming Customs, the surname Heier is most likely derived from Middle High German words ‘heer’ (military) or ‘heire’ (borderland).

In any case, the last name Heier is still present in many different parts of the world to this day. While it is relatively uncommon, there are still places were finding individuals with the surname Heier is not unlikely.

Variations of the surname Heier

The surname Heier (also spelled Heyer, Hiarer, Hier, and Hirer) is derived from the Middle High German word hare, which means a herald. It was likely first used as a surname by an individual who was an official messenger - a herald - in the medieval period.

The Heier variant of the surname can be traced back to Germany, to the Middle Ages. It has since spread to other countries, including Australia, the United States, Canada, and France. The surnames Hier and Hirer developed from the Heier variant, likely due to transliteration errors or phonetic variations.

The Heyer variant is believed to have roots in Switzerland. It likely developed from the Heier form through a phonetic or slang pronunciation that came to be regarded as standard.

The Hiarer form is prevalent in the United States, and is a variation of the Heyer variant of the surname.

The Heier surname is most common in Germany, followed by the United States and France. In Australia, the Heier surname is most commonly found among immigrants of German and French heritage.

Overall, the Heier surname is derived from the Middle High German word hare, which means a herald. Variants of the surname, such as Heyer, Hiarer, Hier, and Hirer developed as a result of phonetic variations or transliteration errors. These variants are most common in Germany, the United States, France, and Australia.

Famous people with the name Heier

• Darri Heier: an Icelandic footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Haukar
• Simen Heier: a Norwegian CS:GO professional player
• David Heier: a professional International model
• Christopher Heier: a Danish actor
• Isak Heier: a Norwegian actor and director
• Trond Heier: a Norwegian jazz musician and composer
• Mark Heier: a Canadian lawyer and politician
• Paal Heier: a Norwegian handball player
• Einar Heier: a Norwegian footballer
• Sonja Heier: a Norwegian singer and songwriter

Other surnames

Heien