Surname Hershey - Meaning and Origin
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Hershey: What does the surname Hershey mean?
The surname Hershey is of Ashkenazic Jewish and Swiss-German origin. It is a habitational or geographical surname derived from either of two places named Herschweiler in Switzerland and Rhineland, Germany. The name Hershey is an Americanized spelling variant of the original Swiss-German surname 'Hersche'. In the Swiss-German dialect, Hersche means 'deer', so the surname could possibly denote a place abundant in deer. Additionally, the surname became iconic in America due to Milton S. Hershey, founder of The Hershey Company, a successful chocolate manufacturing company. While these origins provide some potential meanings, it is important to remember that surnames over time can change in spelling and often may lose their original meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisHershey: Where does the name Hershey come from?
The surname Hershey is of German origin. It was first found in Switzerland and is derived from the personal name of Hersche, which is a pet form of the old personal name Heinrich. Heinrich means 'home leader' or 'ruler of the household', so people with the name Hershey are believed to have a Swiss or German lineage with ancestral ties to leadership.
The Hershey surname became well-known in the USA with the advent of Milton S. Hershey, the founder of the Hershey Chocolate Company in Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. As such, today, the surname Hershey is most common in the United States, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania due to the historical and ongoing impact of the Hershey family there. However, it's still present in German-speaking countries and regions. Of course, the distribution of the Hershey surname has undoubtedly expanded due to migration and the passage of time. Despite this broadening, the Hershey surname is still relatively rare on a global scale.
Variations of the surname Hershey
The surname Hershey, associated with Swiss and German ancestry, primarily represents a geographical region in Switzerland. Variants of this surname are largely based on phonetic interpretations and spelling variations implemented as families migrated and languages evolved.
Variants and alternate spellings include: Hersh, Hirsch, Hirschi, Hershie, Herschi, Hershie, Hirshey, Hersche, Hershae, Hirshi, Harsh, and Hershy.
Regarding surnames of the same origin, names such as Schmid, Meyer, Muller, and Schmidt are quite common among Swiss German families, although they do not share specific ties with the surname Hershey.
Changing surnames often occurred during migration, particularly amongst immigrants in the United States. Assimilation and language difficulties may have contributed to a simplified or 'anglicized' variants of the surname. This means there may be Hershey descendants living under entirely different surnames, hindering definitive identification or connection to the original Hershey lineage.
It's worth noting that linguistic differences between German and Swiss German can also influence surname spelling. Different dialects may account for several name variations, but that does not necessarily indicate they aren't genealogically related.
Famous people with the name Hershey
- Milton Snavely Hershey: American entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1894.
- Edward J. Hershey: Executive Vice President of the Hershey Chocolate Company from 1928 to 1953.
- Adrian Hershey: American guitarist, songwriter, and singer best known for his work with the bands The Bigger Lovers and Amos Lee.
- Anne Hershey: American television writer, best known for her work on the show Charmed.
- Debbie Hershey: Canadian model who won the Miss Canada Petite beauty pageant in 1982.
- Bill Hershey: American politician who served as mayor of Muncie, Indiana from 1989 to 1993.
- Dirk Hershey: Retired professional soccer player who played for the Philadelphia Fury and the Dallas Sidekicks in the 1980s.
- Phil Hershey: Retired owner and chief executive officer of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, the largest hospitality provider in the Hershey, Pennsylvania area.
- Kim Hershey: Country music singer-songwriter who released her debut album, If You Know What I Mean, in 1995.
- Paul Hershey: Retired American hockey player who played on teams such as the Boston Bruins and the Minnesota North Stars in the 1970s.