Surname Heydrich - Meaning and Origin
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Heydrich: What does the surname Heydrich mean?
The last name Heydrich has Germanic roots. It is derived from the Middle High German “hei” meaning “high” and “drih” meaning “ruler” indicating those with the Heydrich last name likely descend from a line of high rulers. The name has long been associated with significant figures in German history. Some of the most notable people with the Heydrich name are Reinhard Heydrich, a key figure in the Holocaust and Nazi Germany, and Bruno Heydrich, a renown German filmmaker, lyricist and composer.
Reinhard Heydrich was born into a Prussian aristocracy and joined the Nazi party shortly after its emergence. He was one of the leading architects of Hitler’s Final Solution. Heydrich quickly rose through the ranks of the SS and the Gestapo to become a senior Nazi leader. Heydrich is remembered for his role in organizing concentration camps, his decision to implement mass murder of Jews, and his position as the acting Reich protector of Bohemia and Moravia.
Bruno Heydrich was a much less notorious figure in history. He was born in Berlin and quickly rose to fame as a composer and conductor. His musical pieces included everything from traditional folk music to big band compositions. Heydrich was also a prolific lyricist, writing lyrics for many popular performers in the mid-twentieth century.
The Heydrich family has left a lasting legacy both in German and world history, albeit one tarnished by extreme violence and hate. While the name has long been associated with some of the German Reich’s darkest figures, there have been members of the family whose passion for music and culture have added beauty and life to the Heydrich name.
Order DNA origin analysisHeydrich: Where does the name Heydrich come from?
The last name Heydrich is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries today. It is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term 'Haidric', which is composed of two elements: 'hait', meaning 'hedge' and 'ric', meaning 'rich'.
The name Heydrich can be traced back to an 11th century German family, originally from Bohemia, who gained prominence when their progenitor became a local ruler at their ancestral castle Niedam. During the Middle Ages, they adopted the last name 'Heydrich', which has been carried on for generations since.
In modern times, the name has become more widespread as people have migrated to other countries, and several famous people in both Europe and the United States have the last name Heydrich. The most notable bearer of the name in modern times is Reinhard Heydrich, the highly influential Nazi leader and an architect of the Holocaust who was tragically assassinated in 1942.
Despite its infamous connotation, the last name Heydrich is still relatively common in German-speaking countries today, a testament to the strength and endurance of the Heydrich surname. Whether a bearer of the name takes pride in its rich heritage or seeks to distance themselves from its forced association with Nazi leadership, the history of the name Heydrich is an important part of European history.
Variations of the surname Heydrich
The surname Heydrich has several variant spellings and surnames derived from the same root origin. These variations come from different languages and cultures.
In German, the most common spelling is Heydrich; however, variations such as Heydrcih, Heydric, Heydrih, and Heydrick are sometimes seen.
In English, the surname is often seen anglicized as Hider and Hide, as well as Heydrick and Heydrickh.
In Jewish culture, Heydrich might be seen anglicized as Haidrich, Heiderich, or Heidericks.
In Dutch, the surname may appear as Heidreich, Heijdrich, or Heiddrich.
In French, the surname could be seen as Heydricque, Heidricc, Heydricted, or Heydric.
In Norway and Sweden, the surname may be seen as Heidrik, Heidreck, Heideric, Heidrich, or Heidrick.
In Czech, it could be spelled as Hejdrich, Hejdric, Haidrich, Hajdric, Heidric, Heidrich, Hejdrich, Hejdric.
Lastly, in Polish, the surname could be seen as Haidrich, Hajdric, Hajdrich, Heidrych, Heidrick, and Heiderick.
Overall, the spelling of the surname Heydrich can be found in many variations across several different cultures and languages. While the root origin remains the same, the surname may vary widely from location to location.
Famous people with the name Heydrich
- Reinhard Heydrich- Nazi German political leader and one of the main architects of the Holocaust
- Lina Heydrich- Reinhard Heydrich's wife
- Kristin von Heydrich- Reinhard Heydrich's daughter
- Heydrich Trio- lutenist consisting of three brothers with the last name Heydrich
- August Heydrich- German admiral and lyricist
- Brigitte Heydrich- daughter of Reinhard Heydrich
- Jirí Heydrich- Czech composer
- Jirí-Karel Heydrich- Czech oboeist and professor
- Oto Heydrich- Czech trumpeter
- Karel Heydrich- Czech horn player
- Alfred Heydrich- 19th century Czech pianist and professor
- Jin Heydrich- South Korean figure skater
- Jürgen Heydrich- German elite men's basketball coach
- Ivo Heydrich- Czech film actor and television presenter