Surname Herschbach - Meaning and Origin
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Herschbach: What does the surname Herschbach mean?
The last name Herschbach is a German and Jewish surname with several possible etymologies. It can be derived either from the German word 'Hirsch' meaning 'stag' or from the Hebrew word 'Hirsch' meaning 'deer'. The former likely comes from an occupational name for a huntsman or the name of a place where deer were found. The latter likely originates from a nickname based on the European red deer or the Biblical deer referenced in the Psalms.
Herschbach is known as a habitational name; it was originally given to those who lived in a place called Herschbach, which is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The earliest known instance of the surname dates back to 1577, when there was a Herschbach family living in Birkenfeld. Due to the migrations of German Jews in the 18th and 19th centuries, the family name is found in the Jewish populations of Europe, North America, and South America.
Throughout the course of time, Herschbach has become a common name among many families across the world. Today it is most common in the United States, where it is the 5,134th most frequently used surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHerschbach: Where does the name Herschbach come from?
The last name Herschbach is an uncommon surname of German origin. It is most commonly found in Germany. Germans began migrating to the United States in the late 1700s, and the Herschbachs were among them. Today, Herschbach is primarily found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and in states that were part of the former German settlement areas, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. It is also found in several other countries around the world, including Canada, France, and Brazil.
The 2000 US Census reported that 359 people had the surname Herschbach across the United States. Most of the people with the last name Herschbach are middle-aged to elderly, suggesting that the name is not gaining popularity or being passed down through families.
Though Herschbach may be uncommon, its frequency is increasing, likely due to intercultural marriages between people of German decent and those of other ethnicities. Furthermore, as Germans migrate around the world, the name Herschbach is likely to become more widespread.
Variations of the surname Herschbach
Variants of the surname Herschbach include Herschback, Hershback, Hershbak, Hershbach, Hershbek, Hershbock, Hirschbak, Hirschbach, Hirschbock, and Hershbek.
The origin of the surname Herschbach is of Ashkenazic Jewish descent and it is derived from the Yiddish name Hirsch, meaning deer. It was a common given name and was used as a name to denote a person’s occupation as a deer hunter.
The earliest record of the surname Herschbach is found in a 1525 document that refers to a Jeremias Hirchbach of Germany. Over time, the name has evolved to Herschbach, as well as several other variants.
The various spellings of the surname Herschbach all have the same origin, but pronunciation and interpretation may differ from region to region. For example, Hirschbak or Hershback may be more common in countries such as Germany, while Hershbach or Hershbek may be seen in America or other regions.
Similarly, the various spellings may also produce alternate surnames. For instance, Hirschbak and Hershback may both be interchangeable with the variation Hirschbag as well.
Overall, the surname Herschbach has significantly evolved over time, but the origin of the name still remains the same.
Famous people with the name Herschbach
- Dudley R. Herschbach: Nobel Prize–winning American chemist and professor at Harvard University
- Roy Herschbach: historian and professor at Harvard University
- Peter Herschbach: philosopher and professor at Yale University
- Harold L. Herschbach: American award-winning scientist and professor emeritus at Harvard University
- Arthur Herschbach: American actor and film producer
- Steve Herschbach: Canadian TV, film, and theater actor
- Sandy Herschbach: American author, screenwriter, and television producer
- Lawrence Herschbach: president of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
- Jon Herschbach: American actor, music producer, and screenwriter
- Sue Herschbach: American jazz vocalist, composer, producer, and teacher