Surname Hertzog - Meaning and Origin
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Hertzog: What does the surname Hertzog mean?
The last name Hertzog is German in origin and typically translates to “herald” or “army chief” from the Middle High German hartczoge. It is a relatively rare name that has an interesting history tracing its origin back to a medieval region of Germany called Bavaria.
In Bavaria, the name was likely first used to refer to a local military leader or to distinguish one leader from another during the 14th and 15th centuries. The word ‘hertzog’ is a combination of the old High German words ‘hart’ (‘strong’) combined with the word for ‘chief’ or ‘ruler’, ‘zoge’. It was not uncommon during this time for individuals to take on the surname of their local leader or leader’s family. As a result, the name became popular in Bavaria and was adopted by many families.
By the mid 19th century, the Hertzog surname had spread across the German speaking parts of Europe and by the 20th century it had spread further to other regions worldwide including the UK, US, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Here, the surname may still be used as an occupational name, but the hereditary origins are often forgotten and the meaning may no longer be understood.
Order DNA origin analysisHertzog: Where does the name Hertzog come from?
The last name Hertzog is most commonly found in South Africa and other countries of Southern Africa. Hertzog is an Afrikaans surname derived from the German surname Hertzog ("princeling"), the French name Herzog ("duke"), and the Dutch name Hertog ("duke") which are all derived from the Middle High German title "Hertoug" ("duke").
The surname has a long recorded history in South Africa, where it has been used since the 19th century. During the Boer War, many Dutch speakers in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State were referred to by the names Hertzog and De Wet, two leaders of the Boers in the conflict.
The family has since reproduced and diversified into a wide variety of regional and social circles within South and Southern Africa; as such, various Pauw, van Wyk, Peet, Botha, and most commonly, Smit families are descended from the original Hertzog family. Of the Hertzog family specifically, it is known that there were several branches that settled in other parts of African including Bloemfontein and Pretoria in South Africa, Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, and Grootfontein in Namibia, and Gaborone and Francistown in Botswana.
Today, the surname Hertzog is still most prevalently found in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. It is also common in other countries of Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. However, the surname is also becoming increasingly found in other parts of the world, such as Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Hertzog
The surname Hertzog is of German and Yiddish origin. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Hertzzag, Hertsog, Hertswog, Hertzog and Hartzog.
Hertzog is derived from the German word ‘Hertz’ which means ‘a ruler’ or ‘lord’. It was also more commonly used as a military title during the Middle Ages. The Yiddish version of the name Hertzog, Hertzzag, came about as a result of the migration of Central European Jews to the United States and other countries in the 19th century.
The surname Hertzog is mostly found in Germany, the USA, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also sometimes seen in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Other surnames of the same origin include Hartzeg, Hertzaig, and Hortzog. These variations are mostly seen in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as other countries where German and Yiddish families migrated to.
In the United States, this surname is most commonly seen as Hertzog, but other variants are also seen. For example, Hertsog and Hertzog are commonly seen in Pennsylvania, while Hartzog can be found in California and Texas.
Hertzog is also sometimes spelled with two ‘zs’ - Hertzzag. This spelling, as well as variants such as Hertswog and Hertzaig, can be found in Jewish communities all over the world, such as in the United States, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland.
In short, the surname Hertzog has a variety of different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Hertzzag, Hertsog, Hertswog, Hertzog, and Hartzog, as well as others such as Hertzaig, Hartzeg, and Hortzog. Depending on where the family originated, this surname can also have different spellings and variations.
Famous people with the name Hertzog
- Paul Hertzog: American songwriter and composer, best known for writing songs for films such as Kickboxer, 1991's Bloodsport II and Universal Soldier: The Return.
- Manfred Hertzog: German stage and television actor and voice actor.
- Bill Hertzog: former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Jürgen Hertzog: German football striker, currently playing with KFC Uerdingen 05.
- John Hertzog: former member of the National Assembly of Zambia, representing the United National Independence Party.
- Fritz Hertzog: Swiss footballer, who won the Swiss Championship with FC Basel in 1911.
- Irene Hertzog: German painter of the "Classical Modern" period.
- Günter Hertzog: German footballer and manager.
- Ulrich Hertzog: Swiss skier and a double bronze medalist in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
- Heinrich Hertzog: South African-born Canadian chemist. He is best known for developing a process for manufacturing bleached paper pulp.
- Richard Hertzog: American businessman and philanthropist.
- Heinz Hugo Hertzog: German President of South Africa from 1925 to 1933.