Surname Henff - Meaning and Origin
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Henff: What does the surname Henff mean?
The last name Henff is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words 'hain' and 'vogt', which together can be translated to mean 'guardian of the court'. This indicates that the original bearer of the name likely served as an officer in the court of a German noble.
The surname Henff has its roots at least as far back as the early 14th century; some sources point to earliest records of the name dating back to the 11th century. Ancient German records show the existence of Henffs in various parts of the country over the centuries.
The Henffs who emigrated to North America (primarily Pennsylvania and Ohio) generally chose to anglicize their name to Henf or Henff. In the 20th century, some Henffs chose to spell their name Henfee. Today, Henffe is the most common spelling of the surname in North America.
Though the exact numbers are hard to come by, today, the Henff surname is still relatively uncommon. Those who carry the name are spread out through Germany, North America, and other parts of the world.
The name is likely to carry with it feelings of community identity, and a belief in the importance of justice and protection. It is a name that has endured the tests of time, from its distant roots to its modern iterations, and it is a fine symbol of the strength and loyalty of the German people.
Order DNA origin analysisHenff: Where does the name Henff come from?
The last name Henff is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word "henf," meaning hedge, and translates to "one who lived near or worked with a hedge." The spelling of the last name was probably changed by immigrants as they moved to other countries and regions, eventually evolving to "Henff".
The highest concentration of people with the last name Henff is in Germany, where it is ranked as the 1,996th most common name. It is particularly popular in the Hesse region of central Germany. Austria also has a large population of Henffs, ranking as the 420th most common surname. It is especially common in the state of Lower Austria and the town of Vienna.
Henff is also found in smaller numbers across Europe, the USA, and Canada. In the USA it is most popular in the states of Pennsylvania and New York, perhaps due to a large German-American immigrant population in these areas. It is ranked as the 6,686th most common name in the US. Canada has a slightly larger population of Henffs, ranking as the 2,569th most common name.
So, while the last name Henff is not a widely popular name, it has a steady and distinct presence in countries around the world, especially in German-speaking regions.
Variations of the surname Henff
The surname Henff has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Henf, Henffe, Henfte, Hensfe, Henffe, Hanff, Hanf, Hanffe, Handfe, Hanfte, Hansfe, Henfel, Henfell, Hanfel, Hanfell, Hendfel, Henft, Handft, Heimf, Heimb, Heimff, Heimbf, Heimt, Hamf, Hemf, Hemff, Hemft, Hemt, Hemtf, Heemf, Heemff, Hamff, Hamt, Hamft, Haemf, Hahmf, Hehmf, Henftef, Hehmfe, Hehmfee and Hennf.
The origin of this surname is believed to be German, derived from the Middle High German word ‘henf’, meaning ‘hind’ or ‘stag’, and was likely an occupational name for a hunter or forest guard. It could also have arisen as a nickname for someone who was considered quick or agile. Furthermore, it could be derived from an Old German word meaning ‘high’, or from a combination of Heinrich and Fried, which is a combination of two common Germanic first names.
The surname Henff was popular among families in Germany and the Netherlands. In the United States, the variants of Henff have been documented in New York since at least the 17th century. The surname is still sometimes found in the United States, and in other countries such as Canada, South Africa, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Henff
- Robert Henff: A popular actor and casting director
- Laura Henff: Founder of the Henff Group LLC, specializing in business and technical project management
- Jimmy Henff: A music producer and artist working in the indie music scene
- Alex Henff: A noted Supreme Court Justice
- Paul Henff: A Grammy Award-winning musician and producer
- Richard Henff: A venture capitalist and entrepreneur
- Sean Henff: A Hollywood stuntman
- Matthew Henff: A director and actor with several notable award-winning films
- Richard Henff Jr.: The former president of the Henff Group and a successful entrepreneur
- Betty Henff: A noted civil rights advocate and feminist