Surname Hellerung - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hellerung: What does the surname Hellerung mean?
The last name Hellerung is of German origin and is derived from the Old Germanic word "halling" which means "to become round". The name can be interpreted in a few ways, one of the most common being that it was used as a reference to a rotund person or their physical characteristics. It can also be interpreted to mean someone who was somewhat timid or shy.
It is likely that someone with the name Hellerung used the name to indicate that they were either of a round body type or had a distaste for conflict and confrontation. Over time, Hellerung evolved from being a descriptor to a surname. This is evidenced by records from the Middle Ages that indicate that Hellerung was a common surname in Bavaria, which is present-day Germany.
Although the exact history of Hellerung may remain unknown, its meaning is clear. It is a reference to a gentle and somewhat shy personality, or perhaps a rotund body type. The enigmatic nature of the last name Hellerung adds to its uniqueness and charm.
Order DNA origin analysisHellerung: Where does the name Hellerung come from?
The last name Hellerung is most commonly seen in Northern Germany. The surname is derived from the old German word 'Helren', which was translated as 'big steep hill'. This suggests that many of the people who bore the name once hailed from an area with many steep hills.
The Hellerung family has resided in Germany since at least the early 17th century. In the mid-18th century, the family had moved from the area around Hannover in Lower Saxony to a small village known as Groß Süstedt in the Uckermark region of Brandenburg. There, the name of Hellerung and its variants spread in the region and beyond.
Today, Hellerung is still found mostly in northern Germany. Because of the prevalence of the name and the country's long history of migratory patterns, Hellerung can also be spotted in other parts of Germany and beyond, including Sweden, the United States, and Canada. It should be noted however, that outside of Germany the variant spellings of Hellerung are more common, such as Höllerung, Helering, and Hallering.
Variations of the surname Hellerung
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hellerung include Hellerung, Hallerung, Hallerring, Hellerring, Höllerring, Hellring and Hollering.
The Hellerung surname originates from northern Germany, specifically from Hamburg. The name referred to the profession of a ‘Heuler’ and is derived from the archaic German word ‘heulen’ meaning ‘to howl’ or ‘call’. It was typically used to refer to a craftsperson such as a crier or a herald. Heurlingen was the earliest spelling of the name and its forms were first documented in the 13th century.
The Hallerung surname is derived from the occupation of a ‘Heller’, meaning a ‘hive-keeper’ in German. This term was used to describe a beekeeper in medieval Germany and the Hallerung form of the surname was widely adopted in cities such as Hamburg and Berlin. The occupation of a ‘hive-keeper’ was traditionally closely linked to bee-related activities, such as honey harvesting, and it was popularly practiced by poorer members of society.
The Hellerring and Höllerring surnames were generally found in the eastern parts of Germany and the Dutch provinces, as they were derived from the Low German term ‘holer’, meaning a dungeon or cellar. The Hollering surname is thought to have originated in the Netherlands and is likely connected to the Dutch phrase ‘holleren’, meaning ‘to hum’ or ‘to buzz’.
Lastly, the surname Hellring is found mostly in the Rhine region of Germany and is derived from the German terms ‘helle’ and ‘ring’. The term ‘helle’ has multiple meanings, such as clear, bright, merry or cheery. The use of the term ‘ring’ to form the surname is likely derived from the medieval German word ‘ringen’ which means ‘to wrest’. Therefore, the surname Hellring translates to mean ‘bright-wrestler’.
Famous people with the name Hellerung
- Nil Hellerung: Swedish handball goalkeeper who represented Sweden at the 1967 World Women's Handball Championship
- Richard Hellerung: German bobsledder who competed in the 2004 Winter Olympics
- Jan Hellerung: Norwegian Nordic skier who competed in the 1928 Winter Olympics
- Egon Hellerung: German bobsledder and Olympic athlete in the 1976 Winter Olympics
- Vaclav Hellerung: Czechoslovakian-born Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks in the 1980s
- Robert Hellerung: German ice hockey player who played for the Deutsche Eishockey Liga's EHC Heilbronn in the 2010s
- Maya Hellerung: Israeli ice dancer who competed in the 2012 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
- Ella Hellerung: Swedish tennis player who competed in the 2017 French Open
- Nick Hellerung: American motorcycle racer who has competed in the AMA Supercross Championship
- Axel Hellerung: Swedish biathlete who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1956 and 1960