Surname Henreich - Meaning and Origin
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Henreich: What does the surname Henreich mean?
The last name Henreich is derived from the German, Dutch, and Jewish surname Heinrich, which in turn derives from the Old High German given name Heimrich, meaning "home ruler" or "home ruler from the clan". Hence the last name Henreich means "home leader", "householder", or "head of the house". This ancient surname reflects the great significance attributed to a founding progenitor back in the Middle Ages. It was thought that each family line descended directly from one founding father, and this was preserved in the clan's name.
Henreichs were typically associated with powerful landowning families, or those who held prominent positions in their communities. In German society, the Henreich name was considered to be a respected name that was closely associated with aristocracy and other powerful families. The name was sometimes altered in spelling when emigrating from Germany to other countries during the 19th and 20th centuries, with some variations being Henrich, Henrichs, and Henriksen.
The associated coat of arms for the surname Henreich is known as the Tree of Lazarus, which signifies generations of family growth and legacy. It features a shield with an oak tree, three golden crowns and four red roses spread in a cross pattern, which are visible even when the shield is coloured in. The symbolism of the Tree of Lazarus suggests loyalty, strength, and growth.
Order DNA origin analysisHenreich: Where does the name Henreich come from?
The last name Henreich is originally of German origin. Both Germany and Austria still have high numbers of people with this surname scattered throughout the two countries. The Henreich surname can also be found in other countries around the world which have significant German populations. In the United States, the last name is comparatively more common in pockets of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, which all have large German-American communities. Canadian provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia also have strong German-Canadian communities where the Henreich last name can be found. In addition, it has spread to other countries with various waves of German immigrants throughout the last few centuries. It is known to be relatively common in Brazil, Australia, and South Africa. Overall, the majority of people with the last name Henreich still live in Western and Central Europe, but has spread to other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Henreich
The surname Henreich has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants include:
• Heinrich or Heinrick - this spelling is a Germanized version of the name. It is directly derived from the Germanic words “Hein” meaning home and “Ric” meaning ruler or leader.
• Henery - a contemporary variation of Henreich which is a product of the anglicization of the name.
• Henrich - this spelling is derived from the medieval German “Heimric” which essentially means “Home Ruler.”
• Harrison - a variant which is derived from the German “Herisson” or the English Harison/Haryson which have their roots in the old Germanic name “Heimric.”
• Hernández - a Spanish variant of the name, derived from the son of Ferrant or Fernão which, in Galician-Portuguese and Spanish cultures, is a popular surname.
• Hangar - a variant which is derived from the Old Germanic words “Heim” meaning home and “Gar” meaning spear.
In other countries, the Henreich surname also has various variants. In Italy, for example, it is spelled as “Enrico” which is a variation of the German name “Heinrich.” In Poland, it is spelled as “Henryk” which is a shortened version of the German name “Heinrich.” In Russia and Ukraine, the same surname is spelled as “Ghenrich” or “Ghenrick.” In France, it is spelled as “Henry” which originates from the Germanic name “Heinric.”
Regardless of the spelling, all of these variants for the surname Henreich originated from the same old Germanic root name “Heinric” meaning “home ruler” or “ruler of the house.”
Famous people with the name Henreich
- Henry Ford: American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.
- Henry VIII: King of England from 1509 to 1547 and founder of the Church of England.
- Henry Kissinger: American diplomat and former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State.
- Henry Cavill: British-American actor best known for his portrayal of Superman in films produced by the DC Extended Universe.
- Henry Clay: American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House and U.S. Senator.
- Henry Winkler: American actor, comedian, director, and producer known for playing “The Fonz” on the 1970s TV series “Happy Days.”
- Henry Kissinger: German-American diplomat and former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State.
- Henry Louis Gates Jr.: American scholar, documentary filmmaker, author, and educator focused on African American history and published over 20 books.
- Henry Winkler: American actor, comedian, director, and producer known for playing “The Fonz” on the 1970s TV series “Happy Days.”
- Henry Rollins: American musician, actor, writer, television and radio host, and comedian best known as the vocalist of the punk rock band Black Flag.
- Henry Houdini: Hungarian-American magician, illusionist, and stunt performer best known for his escapes from handcuffs, straitjackets and containers.