Surname Heihn - Meaning and Origin

Heihn: What does the surname Heihn mean?

The last name Heihn (also spelled Heihn, Heim, or Heyhn) is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the German word "heihen," meaning "clean or pure." It's believed that the name was given to a person who was thought of as being clean or pure.

In some cases, the name Heihn may have originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near an area that was considered clean or pure. For example, a river, pond, or other body of water may have been thought of as being clean or pure in comparison to the local area.

The related form Heim can be found in several countries, including Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. In particular, it is very popular in the Swiss Canton of Graubunden.

In some other cases, the name Heihn may have originated as an occupational name, as it is believed to refer to a man who worked in the cleaning industry. In this case, the name may have been associated with someone who was responsible for washing clothes or cleaning houses.

The last name Heihn is found throughout Germany and Austria, as well as other parts of Europe. It is also found in the United States of America, mainly as a result of immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Heihn: Where does the name Heihn come from?

The surname Heihn is mainly found in Germany today. The name is derived from elements of the German language with “Hein” being a diminutive form of Heinrich and “hain” meaning “forest” or “woodland.” As such, the name is likely to have originated as a toponymic occupational surname for someone who worked in or around a forest.

The name is particularly common in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony and its variants are also found in Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Its oldest recorded form, given as “Heinhain” dates to 1447 in Germany, while its anglicised variant “Hehn” is found throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.

Ancestry records show that the name has spread around the world in modern times, with Heihn's settling in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

With more than 30,000 people listed under the surname, the Heihn family is definitely a prominent part of German culture, even if the origins of its name are still a mystery.

Variations of the surname Heihn

Heihn is a German surname, the variations of which can be found all over the world. Among the most common variations are Heyn, Heim, Heimann, Hiems, Hain, Heihne, Haines, Hass, Haus, Haehne, Heinn, Hens, Heissan, Heegan, Hegner, Heimlich, Hesser, Heims, and Heyne.

In Germany, the name can be phonetically spelled "Hynn," "Him," or "Haim," although " Heihn " is still the most common variation. In other countries, Heihn is often transformed into Heyne, Hyne, and Hine, or even Brigham and Hyams. In Swedish, the first letter of the name is often spelled with two dots— Öhne—a convention used for differentiating the spelling of surnames from the spelling of words, rather than indicating a particular pronunciation.

There are a small number of variants of Heihn which appear to be of different origins. Some of these include Hayn, Heyden, and Hohn, all of which are German in origin.

The ancestral home of the Heihn family is the region of German-speaking Europe, specifically Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. This has resulted in Heihn being a relatively widespread surname found today in counties including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name is most common in Germany, where it is particularly prevalent in Bavaria, and ranks in the top 1000 in the US.

Famous people with the name Heihn

• Chris Heihn: former Major League Baseball pitcher, was a reliever in 1986 for the San Francisco Giants.
• Brian Heihn: professional skateboarder, sponsored for over ten years by California Skateboards, currently competing in the 411 Europe Downhill Series.
• Mark Heihn: American ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and the Winnipeg Jets.
• David Heihn: Australian rugby league player who played in the NRL for the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders.
• Markus Heihn: German footballer, who is mainly playing for FC Bayern Munich, since 2013.
• Jeff Heihn: former NASCAR driver, participated in five races between 2001 and 2006.
• Rachel Heihn: American actress and singer, known for her roles in the TV show Gilmore Girls and the Broadway musical Hairspray.
• John Heihn: Canadian curler, winner of four Brier trophies and three national championships.
• Henry Heihn: Austrian-born actor who appeared in many films and television shows, most notably as “Alexei” in the British television series Robin of Sherwood.
• William Heihn: American architect, who designed buildings worldwide for over 40 years.

Other surnames

Heihne