Surname Herschell - Meaning and Origin

Herschell: What does the surname Herschell mean?

The last name Herschell is of German origin, and it is derived from the ancient personal name "Herschel," which is an alternate spelling of "Heinrich." The names Herschel and Heinrich both mean "ruler of the home," and the root of the name comes from the Germanic words "Heim" and "Ric," which mean "home" and "ruler," respectively. In medieval times, a ruler of the home was a male figure who oversaw the household, providing guidance and protection, thus the last name Herschel reflects an old-fashioned concept of a patriarch.

The surname Herschel is also thought to be related to a nickname of “Herschelmann,” which could have been derived from the German word "Hirschmann," meaning “deer man.” The Germanic-influenced language of medieval times was based on the idea of creating many nicknames from a name, so the surname Herschell could also be seen to mean "the son of the deer man."

Despite its age, the surname Herschell remains popular today. A search on Ancestry.com reveals that the last name Herschell is widely found in Europe, North America, Australia, and elsewhere. The vast majority of Herschell individuals today either live in Germany or migrated from there, although there are some more distant branches of the Herschell family tree due to immigration over the decades.

Herschell: Where does the name Herschell come from?

The last name Herschell is primarily found as an American surname, particularly in the Midwestern United States, as well as in Canada. It is also found in the United Kingdom, with some individuals living in Germany, France, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.

The origin of the name Herschell is uncertain, but may have originally been an English nickname derived from the Old German personal name “Hersch,” or “Heorot”, meaning “noble warrior”.

Herschell is popularly perceived to be more of a family surname name, although it is sometimes found as a first name among descendants of families in the Midwestern United States. It is generally popular among families of German, French, and Dutch descent.

Herschell is a variation of the last name Herschthal, which is also found in Midwestern United States and Canada as well as in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Alternately, it may also be a modification of the German surname Hirsch, meaning “deer”. It is also possible that Herschell is a variant of the Czech surname Hreschka.

Herschell is a relatively uncommon name today, which may be due in part to its regional presence and its association with older, established families. For this reason, it has not seen the same widespread adoption as some more popular last names. Nevertheless, the name Herschell continues to be passed down as part of family heritage, and remains alive today in some form or another.

Variations of the surname Herschell

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Herschell include the following:

Herschel, Herschl, Hersh, Hershall, Hershberger, Hershfield, Hershkowitz, Herchelbacher, Herschelman, Hirschberger, Hirschfield, Hirschkowitz, Hershman, Hirschel, Hirshl, Hirshman, HersAhl, Herswal, Hirschall, Hirschel, Hirsch, Hirsel, Herschelberger, Herschberger, Herschensohn, Herschell, Herschelly, Hertscha, Hertz, Hertzel, Hertzberg, Hertzman, Hertzsche, Herzel, Herzelman, Herzl, Herzog, Herzoger, and Herzfeld.

Herschel is the most common variant of the surname, but variants such as Herschl, Hershall, and Hershkowitz are also found in many countries. The Herschel spelling is predominantly found in Poland, while German-speaking countries tend to favor the variants Herschl and Hirschl. In the United States, the most common variants of Herschell are Hersh and Hershfield, while in England variants such as Hershall and Hershman are more popular.

The spelling Hertscha and Hertz also occur with varying frequency, especially in Germany and sometimes in the United States. Other variants such as Herzog, Herzoger, and Herzfeld are more commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe.

In terms of surnames of the same origin as Herschell, the spelling Herschberger is believed to be derived from the same root, and can often be found as Hershberger in the United States. Similarly, the spelling Hershensohn is believed to have originated from the same root as Herschell, and can commonly be found in South Africa and other countries with a significant Jewish population.

Famous people with the name Herschell

• Adam Herschell: Former professional tennis player.
• Andrew Herschell: Race car driver.
• Ben Herschell: American actor.
• Howie Herschell: Professional golfer.
• Chris Herschell: Professional wrestler.
• Jack Herschell: English composer.
• Jesse Herschel: Former MLB pitcher.
• John Herschell: British classical composer.
• Justin Herschell: River fisherman.
• Nathan Herschell: American composer.
• Pauline Herschel: German astronomer.
• Robert Herschell: Photographer and artist.
• William Herschell: British astronomer.
• William F. Herschell: Cinematographer.
• Kathryn D. Herschell: American lawyer.
• Mark Herschell: Actor and producer.
• Stephen E. Herschell: Gen.
• Carl William Herschell: American engineer.
• Gregory David Herschell: Physician and professor.
• Kellen Herschell: Former professional cyclist.

Other surnames

HerscheidHerscheidt