Surname Hinkfuth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hinkfuth: What does the surname Hinkfuth mean?
The last name Hinkfuth is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word “hinke” which means “hemp rope maker” or “rope layer”. This implied that at some point a person with the last name Hinkfuth was engaged in the production or finishing of ropes made from hemp fibers.
The Hinkfuth family can trace their ancestry all the way back to the Palatinate area of Germany, located in the present day Rhineland-Palatinate district. During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, many families with the Hinkfuth surname relocated to the United States, settling primarily in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
Considering the Hinkfuth family’s history, these individuals were hard-working people who were not afraid to put in labor for the sake of success. The family’s devotion to honest labor is one of the major contributing factors to their success in the United States, making them an historically admirable lineage.
Today, the Hinkfuth family name is still quite prominent in the United States and Germany, and is sometimes accompanied by many variant spellings such as Honkfuth and Henkefutt. Despite their origin as rope makers or rope layers, it is thought that after many years spent abroad, families of this name have adopted a variety of different trades and professions.
Order DNA origin analysisHinkfuth: Where does the name Hinkfuth come from?
The last name Hinkfuth is most commonly found in southwestern Germany today, particularly in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The German surname was originally derived from the Middle High German word hingkfol, meaning “hawk’s feather”.
It is thought that the oldest Hinkfuth family originated from the region around Speyer, a city on the banks of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate. From here, the surname Hinkfuth spread to other towns in the area, such as Würzburg, Augsburg, and Mönchengladbach.
Today, the Hinkfuth family surname can be found scattered throughout Germany and its surrounding countries. In the United States, this German name is uncommon. The most significant populations are located in Texas and Pennsylvania.
Regardless of their location, members of the Hinkfuth family are generally respectable and active people. Whether they hold distinguished positions in business or public service, they remain reliable and devoted to their work and to each other.
Variations of the surname Hinkfuth
The surname Hinkfuth is of German origin, and its variants include Hinkfeit, Hinkfeydt, Henkefueth, Henkefeud, Hinkfeet, and Hinkfeut. All these variations trace back to the same root of the name Hinkfuth, as they all share the segments of ‘hink’ and ‘futh’.
The name likely began as a descriptive name or nickname for someone with a feisty temper, as the root elements ‘hinke’ and ‘futh’ may have originally derived from the early German word for ‘a brave fight’ or ‘fury’. The surname is generally found in northern Germany, where it remained fairly common from the early 1800s.
Variations of the surname began emerging in the mid-1700s. Henkefeud was mainly used in Germany in the 17th century, while the variant Hinkfeit was mainly used in the 1800s. The variant Hinkfeydt emerged in the same era, while Hinkfeet and Hinkfeut arose in the early 20th century.
Most of these variants have become uncommon nowadays, with Hinkfuth remaining the most common spelling. However, some variations of the surname may be used as first names or forenames.
Famous people with the name Hinkfuth
- Hans-Hinrich Hinkfuth: German politician in the Nazi era
- Gregor Hinkfuth: German physicist and a professor at the University of Göttingen
- Heinz Hinkfuth: German actor best known for his role in the TV show Ein Fall für Zwei
- Thomas Hinkfuth: German baritone, best known as a member of the Cilli Boys
- Georg Hinkfuth: German architect, urban planner and professor of architectural theory
- Stephan Hinkfuth: German investigative journalist
- Joachim Hinkfuth: German enterpreneur and business analyst
- Adolf Hinkfuth: German painter and graphic artist
- Conrad Hinkfuth: German architect and sculptor
- August Hinkfuth: German medical doctor and obstetrician