Surname Hinkfuß - Meaning and Origin

Hinkfuß: What does the surname Hinkfuß mean?

The last name Hinkfuß is derived from the German word “Hinkefuss,” which literally translates to “bowed leg.” This is generally understood to refer to someone who had a physical issue causing them to walk with a bowed or crooked gait. In the Middle Ages, it was common to give a person a surname based on some physical characteristic, and this was especially true for deformities. The name Hinkfuß was likely given to an ancestor who had a bowed leg, and the name has been passed down through the years.

The term “Hinkfuß” also has a second, more figurative meaning, signifying someone who is “scheming” or “crafty.” It is unclear where this definition came from, but it may have been derived from the person’s ability to maneuver around obstacles with their bowed or crooked gait.

Today, the name Hinkfuß is part of German culture and is not associated with either meaning of the word. In modern times, people with this name are likely unaware of its origin, and the name is simply a family name. It is possible, however, that the original meaning of the name has been transferred in some sense into the person’s personality or even into their profession.

Hinkfuß: Where does the name Hinkfuß come from?

The last name Hinkfuß is most commonly seen today in Germany, Austria and other surrounding German-speaking regions such as Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is an uncommon family name and is thought to have originated in the northeastern region of what is now Germany. The word Hinkfuss, or Hinkefuß, is a combination of the German words "Hinkel" (hobble, limp) and "fuss" (foot or feet). This likely originated as this surname taken on to indicate someone who limped or had a limp.

It is possible to trace a genealogical history of the Hinkfuß surname. The earliest known record of the surname found so far appears as a "Hinckfus" in the records of the Humboldt University in Berlin for a student who graduated in 1578. From there, small communities of Hinkfuß families can be traced across northeastern Germany.

Today, many areas in this region have a very small population and are made up of several small towns and villages. The surname Hinkfuß is quite rare and is mainly found among these small communities. It is thought that this is due to the fact that the name has only been able to remain in the family for a short period of time, or perhaps due to a tendency for Hinkfuß families to have migrated away from the region. Even today, the surname can still be seen in various German-speaking regions across Europe, but due to its rarity, is still relatively difficult to trace.

Variations of the surname Hinkfuß

Hinkfuß is a German surname which can have various spellings and variants, with the same origin. Variants of Hinkfuß include Hinkfuss, Hinkfues, Hinckfuss, Hinckfues, Hinkefuß, Hinkefues, Hinkefuess. The surname is derived from the combination of two ancient German words, "Hinke" and "Fuß", and therefore translates to ‘limping foot’.

The variants of this surname may be derived from small regional differences in the spelling of the name, or from when a family from the same linguistic heritage moved to another country and had their name recorded with different spellings. It is common for families to drop their original surname in favour of a variant that is more comfortable to spell and pronounce in their new residence.

Hinkfuß can also be used as an alternate surname, as in the case of Johann Hinkfuss, whose real surname was Hinkfussen. Additionally, the English spelling of Hinckfuss has occasionally been observed.

The name has multiple variations in other languages as well. These include Hinkfuß in German, Hinkfussen in Dutch, Hink Instruments in Swedish, and Hinkfuss in Spanish and French.

Hinkfuss has been found in many places around the world, including Austria, Germany, the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Sweden, England, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Famous people with the name Hinkfuß

• Uwe Hinkfuß: Former German footballer and manager.
• Klaus Hinkfuß: German actor, comedian and writer.
• Georg Hinkfuß: Former German footballer.
• Helmut Hinkfuß: German singer-songwriter.
• Bernd Hinkfuß: Former German ice hockey player.
• Herta Hinkfuß: German painter, graphic designer and ceramicist.
• Rainer Hinkfuß: German sculptor.
• Joachim Hinkfuß: Former German footballer.
• Frank Hinkfuß: German journalist and television host.
• Martin Hinkfuß: German journalist and television host.
• Michael Hinkfuß: German footballer.
• Jens Hinkfuß: German ski jumper.
• Jürgen Hinkfuß: German judoka.
• Bernd Hinkfuß: German actor.
• Sonja Hinkfuß: German Paralympic swimmer.
• Kerstin Hinkfuß: German biathlete.
• Otto Hinkfuß: German actor.
• Ulrich Hinkfuß: German aerospace engineer.
• Andreas Hinkfuß: German Schwimmer.
• Ulrich Hinkfuß: Austrian yodeler.

Other surnames

HinkfuhsHinkfuth