Surname Herschfeld - Meaning and Origin
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Herschfeld: What does the surname Herschfeld mean?
The last name Herschfeld is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, deriving from the town of Herslov in Ukraine. Its variant spellings include Hershfield, Hearshfield, and Hershfeld.
The Herschfeld surname is likely derived from the Yiddish word hersh'fel, meaning "hazelnut," and it is thought to be of occupational origin. The occupational use of the surname likely was derived from the trade of harvesting and selling hazelnuts, much like its English equivalent, Hazelwood.
The Herschfeld family likely originated in Eastern Europe and moved to Germany, where many Jewish families lived as refugees from Tsarist Russia and other nearby kingdoms. In the 1900s, the surname continued to travel to the United States, where its use flourished among Jewish-American families.
Today, the Herschfeld surname is still prevalent in Jewish communities and amongst those of Eastern European heritage. It is also more widespread among Ashkenazic Jewry in America, where many variations of the surname still exist.
Order DNA origin analysisHerschfeld: Where does the name Herschfeld come from?
Today, the last name Herschfeld is most common in Israel. As of 2020, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, it was the 117th most common surname in the country. This is likely due to the influx of many European Jews who changed their surnames when they traveled to Israel after World War II. Many chose the surname Herschfeld, which was then passed down along family lines in Israel.
The surname is also common in other parts of the world, particularly areas with high Jewish populations, such as the United States. Sequoia Hein, an American journalist, is a notable person with the last name Herschfeld. In addition, Herschfeld is found in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in Germany, Romania, and Poland.
The story behind the name is interesting as well. Herschfeld is a derivation of Hershfield, which derives from the Old German word herse, meaning "gray hair," or "hoary." It has since spread from its original use as a Jewish surname. We don't know exactly when the last name originated, but it could have been centuries ago, making the Herschfeld family a particularly old and diverse one.
Variations of the surname Herschfeld
The surname Herschfeld has multiple variants and spellings that refer to the same origin. Some of these variants include Hershfield, Hershfeld, Hershfieldt, Hershfled, Hersffeld, Hershfild, Hirschyfeld, Herschfyld, Herschfylt and Herschveld.
The surname Herschfeld is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, derived from the German word “Hirsch” which means “deer.” It was originally used as a locational surname to refer to someone who lived near a deer enclosure. As such, it is likely that the surnames originates from a single family from the Middle Ages.
As its original source was German, there are also variations based on how the name would be pronounced in that language. These can include Hirschvald, Hershveldt, and Hershvelt.
Individuals with the surname Herschfeld may refer to themselves by other surnames with the same source, including Hirschenfeld, Hirschenfel, Herchefeld, Hirschfeld, and Hirschendfeld.
Herschfeld may even be found as a patronymic surname, with individuals referring to themselves as the son or daughter of Hirschen, such as Herschkowski or Herschaft.
The variations of the surname Herschieeld may also vary enumerating on the country of origin. For example, in Poland, the surname is frequently found as Hirsczfeld, Hirrszfeld, Hirsczfelf, or Herszfeld.
Finally, some common surnames derived from Herschfeld include Hersh, Hirsch, Herche, Hirschener, Hershberger, Hershman, Herskovitz and Hershenson.
Famous people with the name Herschfeld
- Caroline Herschfeld: Emmy award-winning writer for “Robot Chicken” and co-founder of The Tank, a non-profit arts and event space in Manhattan.
- Sigmund Herschfeld: Austrian-born author and professor of cybernetics, author of “The Art and Science of Artificial Intelligence” and “The Natural Way In Social Science”.
- Holly Herschfeld: award winning children’s author of books such as “Dreamers”, “The Marvelous Letters” and “Summer Snow”.
- Steve Herschfeld: Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning composer for audio-visual media such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Westworld”.
- Marcy Herschfeld: CEO of Conscious Elements, a sustainability consulting agency.
- Melvin Herschfeld: New York Times best-selling author whose works include “The War of the Mind” and “The Flagstone Diaries”.
- Donald Herschfeld: mechanical engineer and inventor, most notably known for developing the wheeled ice cream cart.
- Charles Herschfeld: influential early twentieth century psychologist wrote numerous books, including “The Science of Mental Health”, “The Psychological Theory of Dreams” and “Life and Its Problems”.
- Lillian Herschfeld: first female doctor in Denmark, most notably known for breakthrough practices in women’s health.
- Arnold Herschfeld: pediatric neurologist and author of several books, including “Brain Injury in Newborns” and “Mental Health in Children”.