Surname Herrfurt - Meaning and Origin
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Herrfurt: What does the surname Herrfurt mean?
The last name Herrfurt is an occupational surname which is derived from the German language. It comes from Herr, which means a Lord or master, and Furt, meaning a ford or a naturally shallower section of a river that can be easily crossed by wading.
The German term Herrfurt is usually associated with a person who worked as a ferryman or a toll collector at a particular river crossing. As such, it was primarily used to refer to someone who was responsible for guiding people, goods and animals as they crossed the river.
The occupational last name Herrfurt is believed to have first appeared in Germany during the 12th century, when the term was primarily used to refer to people who owned farms or estates near a river. By the 19th century, it had spread throughout other parts of Europe and could be seen in documents such as civil records, church records and even military records.
The surname Herrfurt is still very common today, most notably in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to be most closely associated with German and Austrian families that are looking to trace their origins or find out more about their family history.
Order DNA origin analysisHerrfurt: Where does the name Herrfurt come from?
The last name Herrfurt is not very common today; the last name is most prominent in areas of Germany, specifically the Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. Herrfurt is a surname derived from a Germanic word meaning “warrior” or “sword-bearer” which indicates that those bearing this name may have had an ancestor in the military. The frequency of this name implies that the majority of its holders are likely of Germanic descent.
The most recent data available shows small numbers in Germany with the highest concentration found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Bavaria. Populations with the last name Herrfurt in the United States of America are much less common, although they can be found mainly as parts of communities of German-American heritage in areas such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. Herrfurt seems to be relatively rare in other countries outside of Germany, though one can find some concentrations in places such Canada and the United Kingdom.
The frequency of Herrfurt varies greatly between countries probably due to factors such as migration or emigration, but it is clear that the name is still relatively uncommon today. Despite this, descendants of those with the name Herrfurt can be found in most European countries and some North American countries.
Variations of the surname Herrfurt
The surname Herrfurt is a German Surname with the original spelling of Herrfurth. It is considered to be an occupational surname, originally belonging to the male members of a family which owned or managed an estate or vineyard holding in Germany. The name can also be spelled Herrfurth, Herrfurth, or Herrefurth. As a result of immigration to the United States, other spellings such as Harford, Harfert, Harfarth, Harfurth, Harfutt, Herrfert, Harfourd, and Herrefood have emerged.
The surname Herrfurth is most commonly found in Germany, but is also used in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as in other parts of the world where German emigration has taken place.
The surname has multiple variants that have been used over time. For instance, Harfert was used in Germany in the 13th century; Herrfurth or Harfurth was used in the 14th century; Harfourd in the 16th century; Herrefurth in the 17th century; Harfutt by the 18th century; and, Herrefood in the 19th century.
As each variant of Herrfurt has its own distinct set of spellings, surname-holders should take into account any relevant records that they find in order to accurately trace the history of their unique surname.
Famous people with the name Herrfurt
- Michelle Herrfurt: American actress
- Holger Herrfurt: German opera singer
- Hélène Herrfurt: French actress
- Oskar Herrfurt: German police officer
- Michael Herrfurt: German politician
- Erhard Herrfurt: German philosopher
- Ulrich Herrfurt: German artist
- Lothar Herrfurt: German inventor
- Egon Herrfurt: Austrian-American musician
- Robert Herrfurt: German engineer
- Berthold Herrfurt: Swiss architect
- Markus Herrfurt: German sculptor
- Chris Herrfurt: German athlete
- Bert Herrfurt: German footballer
- René Herrfurt: French writer
- Edward Herrfurt: American soldier
- Florentius Herrfurt: German boat builder
- David Herrfurt: American composer
- Stephan Herrfurt: German politician
- Friedrich Herrfurt: German collector