Surname Hiebner - Meaning and Origin
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Hiebner: What does the surname Hiebner mean?
The surname Hiebner is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word ‘hinber’ meaning ‘behind or further’. It is believed to have been originally a locational name for someone who lived behind or further along a river. Over the years the family name has been found predominantly in northern parts of Germany.
The first record of the name dates back to the 13th century in Silesia. During those times, names were documented with great precision and the earliest record of the name was recorded in the charters of Freigerich, which was a wealthy merchant family founded in 1251. The oldest ancestor known to have this surname was Johann Ludwig Hiebner, who lived in Silesia in 1497.
The name Hiebner is now found primarily throughout Germany, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries with strong German connections. In the United States, the name began to appear in the mid-19th century. It is reported that some of the first Hiebners to reach the United States arrived as German immigrants.
As a result of its Germanic origin, the surname Hiebner usually refers to someone who is hard-working, reliable, and of a resilient and strong mindset. These qualities were passed down to the generations that came after, and they remain true today.
Order DNA origin analysisHiebner: Where does the name Hiebner come from?
The Hiebner surname is of German origin; specifically, it is thought to hail from the western and southwestern regions of Germany. It is likely a patronymic or occupational name; however, the exact meaning remains uncertain.
Today, Hiebner is not a very common surname. However, this surname has been found in highest concentrations within Germany and the United States. In certain regions, the name may have been americanized to variants like Hibner or Heebner among others. Due to mass emigration from Germany in the 17th to 20th centuries, German surnames like Hiebner have traveled widely, reaching countries like Canada, Australia, and Argentina, among others. Nonetheless, population numbers for this surname remain relatively low, contributing to its rarity. As with many surnames, the distribution of people named Hiebner evolves over time as families move, grow, and change.
Variations of the surname Hiebner
The surname Hiebner is believed to be of German origin and it appears in different variants and spellings, typifying the linguistic diversity of the regions in Germany. The different forms of the surname Hiebner include Hibner, Heebner, Hebenstreit, Hiebeler, Heubner, and Hübner.
All the variants and spellings are mainly due to regional dialects, different spellings, and pronunciations that were typical in earlier times when surnames were becoming standardized. This took place as governments began to take more detailed tax records. Additionally, people who migrated from Germany to English-speaking countries often changed their name's spelling to fit the English phonetic system.
Hubner and Hübner are the most common version of the original surname and are still widely used in Germany and Austria. Other similar surnames include Huebner, Heuber, or Höbner.
While most of these surnames are used interchangeably, they all point back to the same German root "hube", which was a unit of land measurement in the past. These surnames imply that the first bearers were likely landowners.
Famous people with the name Hiebner
- John Hiebner: Professional soccer player.
- Richard Hiebner: German bodybuilder and actor; starred in movies like "Bloodsport" and "Darkman".
- Kenneth Hiebner: American former NBA basketball player.
- Joy Hiebner: American actress best known for appearing in films such as “Network” and “The Running Man”.
- Volker Hiebner: German professional wrestler.
- Christopher Hiebner: American mixed martial artist and UFC fighter.
- Gerd Hiebner: German figure skating champion.
- Klaus Hiebner: Austrian Olympic skier, former captain of the German ski racing team.
- Leslie Hiebner: American businesswoman and philanthropist.
- Peter Hiebner: German musician and composer.