Surname Heß - Meaning and Origin

Journey Through Ancestors: My iGENEA DNA Test Experience with the Heß Surname

Recently, I had the opportunity to take the iGENEA DNA test, conducted to explore my ancestry and understating of my surname, Heß. The comprehensiveness of the test and connection with a global community has been a journey both enlightening and heartfelt.

A. Heß

Heß: What does the surname Heß mean?

Heß is a German surname, which typically originates from the Hessian region of Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word hæse, which means "man".

The Heß surname is associated with a patrilineal hereditary line, and is thought to have been adopted as a permanent surname by certain German families in the early part of the second millennium. In some cases, the surname may also refer to individuals who were not related, but adopted the name out of religious or political loyalty.

Heß was often associated with various title or estate holders, such as the Margraves and Grand Dukes of Hesse, or other aristocratic families bearing the Heß name. The Latinized form Hesse is more commonly found in North America and Europe.

In modern times, the name Heß is associated with various branches of the Hessian family tree. The spelling Heß is used in German-speaking countries, whereas "Hesse" is the most common spelling used in English-speaking countries.

Heß is also found in other countries, such as Switzerland and Austria, but it is not as commonly found outside of Germany as the Hesse spelling. Nevertheless, the Heß surname can still be found in all regions of the world, particularly by descendants of German immigrants to other countries.

Heß: Where does the name Heß come from?

Heß is a German surname and is common today primarily in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2020, the surname was the 25th most common in Germany and the 18th most common in Austria. The surname is also found in some parts of the United States, but to a lesser extent.

In Germany, Heß is especially common in the former West Germany states of Lower Saxony and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as in the city-states of Berlin and Hamburg. It is also common in the eastern state of Brandenburg, which borders Berlin.

In Austria, it is very common in the Tyrol region along the country’s western border with Germany. The surname is also common in Vienna, Austria's capital and largest city. Heß is also sometimes found in other German-speaking countries such as Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.

Outside of German-speaking countries, the surname is sometimes seen in other parts of the United States. It is especially common among people of German ancestry who migrated to the U.S. in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Overall, Heß is a very common surname, primarily in German-speaking countries, but with pockets of its usage in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Heß

Heß is a German surname which can be spelled a few different ways, namely Hess, Hesse and the plural form Hessen. These variations of the same surname all originate from the same geographical area in Germany.

The most common spelling of the surname Heß is Hess. This spelling is popular in scattered locations throughout Germany as well as the United States and elsewhere. Of course, all variants of Heß can be found in these same areas.

The second variant, Hesse, is mostly found within Germany. It is widely used in the state of Hesse as well as in other locations within the country.

The next variant, Hessen, is the plural of the surname. This form is primarily found in the German state known as Hessen. Many with this surname have their roots in this specific area, due to the fact that the oldest records of this surname come from this area.

Variations of Heß have been adopted in many countries around the world. The surname is sometimes seen in its original form, Heß, and even referred to as Heiss, Hiese or Hieser. All of these spellings are used in various locations, depending on the histrical context and derivation of the particular individual or family to which the surname belongs.

In some cases, the singular form of Heß has been changed to the plural Hessen, or vice versa. In general, the various spellings of Heß exist due to regional distinctions or transcription errors.

In many cases, the surname Heß has been Americanized to Hesse, Hesseman, Hesson, Hiss or Hissem. It is also sometimes spelled as Hays, Hayssen, Hayse, Hayce or Haies.

No matter the spelling, all variants of the surname Heß have the same geographical origin: Hesse, Germany.

Famous people with the name Heß

• Heinrich Heß: A German Nazi SS officer who was convicted in Nuremberg for his involvement in the Holocaust.
• Rudolf Heß: Deputy Führer of Nazi Germany and Chief of the Nazi Party chancellery during WWII.
• Alfred J. Heß: A German Field Marshal and the commander of all German Landsknecht forces in the German-Spanish War.
• Peter Heß: A German Grand Admiral during WWII and the commander-in-chief of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine between 1939 and 1945.
• Wolf-Heinrich Heß: A German feudatory prince who fought with the Austrians against the Prussians.
• Fritz Heß: A German political journalist who served as the editor-in-chief of Der Stürmer, a Nazi Party publication.
• Wilhelm Heß: A German Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II.
• Adolf Heß: A German SS-Sturmbannführer who was involved in the Einsatzgruppen and the Holocaust.
• Peter Paul Heß: A German organic chemist and an early pioneer in the development of X-ray crystallography.
• Alexander Heß: A Saxon nobleman and a leader of the cavalry during the Thirty Years' War.

Other surnames

HeßeHeßelbarthHeßenius