Surname Hirthe - Meaning and Origin

Hirthe: What does the surname Hirthe mean?

The last name Hirthe is a German and Dutch surname of an occupational origin. It comes from the Old High German word "hurt", and was used to refer to someone who worked on a farm or was a herder. This term was also used to refer to people who had once been living in the area of Hart, which is a district in modern-day Austria. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 1420 in the city of Nuremberg, Bavaria.

The literal translation of Hirthe is "shepherd" and was probably most commonly used to refer to a herder. This was a common and important profession in the Middle Ages, as shepherds were responsible for taking care of their animals and leading them out to graze in the fields and forests. The Hirthe surname can also refer to someone who managed a large flock of sheep or other livestock.

Throughout the years, the name has been evolutionized to various versions, such as Hurt, Hearth, Hurtz and Hertz, depending on the region. Common variants include Herthe, Hurth and Herrth, and it is mainly found in Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and some parts of Eastern Europe.

The surname Hirthe is still commonly seen today, and is still seen as a proud and revered family name. Some notable people with this name include Alfred Hirthe, a celebrated poet, and Eugen Fischer-Hirthe, a German philosopher and theologian.

Hirthe: Where does the name Hirthe come from?

The last name Hirthe is most commonly found in Germany. It is particularly common in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. It is also sometimes found in other European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, and Switzerland.

This surname is derived from the craft of herding (“Hirte” in German). It was likely first used as an occupational name to refer to an individual involved in such herding tasks. This could include herding sheep, cattle, horses, or other animals. The surname is likely a topographic name as well, describing someone who lived near or worked in an area associated with herding.

The last name Hirthe is still found in Germany today, although it is much less common than it was in previous centuries. In recent years, it has also grown in popularity among German descendants in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and elsewhere. It is estimated that there are roughly 2,000 bearers of the last name Hirthe worldwide today.

Variations of the surname Hirthe

The surname Hirthe is a variation of the surname Hertz, which is a German occupational surname that originally derived from the German word hirt, meaning “shepherd”. The German word for shepherd has been anglicized to Hertz and there are many variations of the surname that have been used over the centuries, including Hearst, Herde, Herst, Hertz, Hurth, Hurtz, Hust, and Hürde, among others.

Hirthe is a commonly used variant, spelling out the same sound and meaning as Hertz. Other variations of the same surname include Hearth, Hirte, Hurth, Hertweck, Heideman, Herget, and Hürth. It is also important to note that there are some other surnames that visually appear similar to Hirthe, but do not share the same origin. This includes names like Hirtz, Herzer, Hirz, and Hurt.

While Hertz is the primary spelling of the surname, there are many different spellings and variants that have been used throughout the centuries. This is due in part to the fact that the spelling of words evolved over time due to pronunciation changes, local dialects, and other regional circumstances. Additionally, many immigrant families anglicized their surnames to different forms when they moved to English-speaking countries. This is why it is not uncommon to find Hirthe, Hearst, Herst, and other spelling variants living in the same area.

All of the different surnames and spelling variants of Hertz form an important part of the family’s history, and are worth exploring if one is interested in their ancestry. The variations provide a glimpse into the development of the surname alongside the history of the family.

Famous people with the name Hirthe

• Karl Erich Magnus von Hirthe (1856-1931): Prussian politician who served as a general in the Kaiser's army.
• Karl Maximilian von Hirthe (1873-1932): Prussian statesman and general.
• Erwin von Hirthe (1882-1943): German zoologist and biologist.
• Wilma von Hirthe (1902-1987): German writer.
• Ulrich von Hirthe (1908-1945): German nobleman and military officer.
• Werner von Hirthe (1910-1992): German politician and lawyer.
• Prince Friedrich Wilhelm von Hirthe (1925-2011): Prussian nobleman and divine.
• Horst von Hirthe (1926-2015): German artist and scholar.
• Wolfgang von Hirthe (1927-2014): German physicist and engineer.
• Dieter von Hirthe (born 1932): German composer and musician.
• Heribert von Hirthe (born 1936): German political scientist.
• Friedemann von Hirthe (born 1957): German actor and director.
• Katrin von Hirthe (born 1965): German actress and model.
• Holger von Hirthe (born 1976): German discus thrower.
• Florian von Hirthe (born 1989): German footballer.

Other surnames

Hirth