Surname Hieronymus - Meaning and Origin

Hieronymus: What does the surname Hieronymus mean?

Hieronymus is a surname of Latin origin, derived from the name of Saint Jerome. The name Hieronymus means "sacred or holy name". It could be related to the Greek words "hiero" (sacred) and "onym" (name). The name is sometimes spelled "Geronimus" or "Geronimo" as well.

Legend has it that Hieronymus was the employee of a cloth merchant who traveled to Rome to receive relics from the Pope. He was attacked by robbers, who stole the relics, but Hieronymus bravely defended himself and managed to survive. Impressed by his courage and piety, the Pope named him Hieronymus, after Saint Jerome.

Hieronymus is still a common surname in several countries. It is popular in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. The name typically has a religious connotation, as many who carry it are rooted in the Catholic Church.

In contemporary times, "Hieronymus" can be used to indicate a certain level of respect and dignity. It is possible that "Hieronymus" could be a part of someone's full name, in the same way the titles "Sir" or "Lord" are sometimes used.

Hieronymus: Where does the name Hieronymus come from?

The last name Hieronymus is most common in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. In fact, Hieronymus is an old Germanic name that dates back to at least the 17th century. It is still very popular in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

The name is thought to refer to the Greek name "Hieronymos", which means "Holy Name". It's meaning could be derived from different historic events or figures, such as St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators and theologians.

In the U.S., it is fairly rare and the highest number of occurrences is in Wisconsin, followed by West Virginia and a few other states. The popular surname website, Forebears, showed that the last name is ranked 14,559th in popularity in the United States.

The last name Hieronymus has also been used in some works of fiction - it was the original last name of the protagonist in the novel The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.

Overall, the last name Hieronymus is not very common in the United States today, but can be found in parts of Central and Eastern Europe where it remains a popular choice.

Variations of the surname Hieronymus

The surname Hieronymus is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Hieronymus, which is derived from the Greek name Hieronymos. The original spelling of Hieronymus is Hieronymos, but the surname is known by many variants in different countries.

In France, the spelling of the surname is often Geronimo, Geromino, Geronimus, or Gerominus. In Italy it is known as Gheronimo, Gheronimus, and Gheronimi. In Portugal, Hieronymus is spelled as Jerónimo and Jeronimus. In Spain, the surname is spelled as Gerónimo, Geronimio and Jerónimo.

In Germany, the variations of the surname include Geronimus, Ernemann, Hieronymus, Henomann and Henemann. The Russian form of the surname is Geronimus.

In the English-speaking world the surname Hieronymus is usually spelled Jerome, Gerome or Jeromy.

Common surnames which are related to Hieronymus include German surnames Gerhardt, Gerdts, and Gerhards; French surnames Geron, Jérôme, Jérômes, and Jeron; Italian surnames Gherardi, Jerardi, and Jerardo; and Dutch surnames Heron, Dier Las Heron or Heronius.

Famous people with the name Hieronymus

• Hieronymus Bosch, Dutch painter from the 15th and 16th centuries
• Hieronymus Kastellanus, 15th century courtier and music writer
• Sándor Hieronymus, 20th century Hungarian-American filmmaker
• Hermann Hieronymus, 19th century German explorer and naturalist
• Karl Hieronymus von Münchhausen, 18th century German nobleman and raconteur
• Albert Hieronymus, early 20th century German botanist
• Robert Hieronymus, 20th century American classical music composer
• Birch Hieronymus, American Major League Baseball umpire from the 1940s
• Michael Hieronymus, contemporary German writer and translator
• Frederic Hieronymus, modern Americana singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Hieronymi