Surname Hoernlein - Meaning and Origin

Hoernlein: What does the surname Hoernlein mean?

The surname Hoernlein is of German origin and has been found in records dating back to the 16th century. The literal translation of the name is ‘horn-like’. The name originated as a descriptive nickname given to someone with particular facial features that resembled a horn.

The name appears to have arisen from a small village called ‘Hornlein’ which is near the city of Erfurt in Germany. It’s possible that someone with this name originally came from the village or adopted the surname from someone living there.

The family name is now found in Germany, the United States and other countries across the world. It is most commonly found in the German states of Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate, where it is still the most common spelling and pronunciation of the name.

As a variant form, it is also seen in other countries as ‘Hornlein’ or ‘Hoernlein’ and can also be transcribed as ‘Hoernline’, ‘Hörlein’ and ‘Hornleine’.

Although there is no definitive origin for the name, it continues to be associated with the family and village of Hornlein in Germany. It is a name that has survived throughout the centuries and still remains associated with its beginnings in the local area of Erfurt.

Hoernlein: Where does the name Hoernlein come from?

The last name Hoernlein is most commonly found in Germany. A region known as Franconia, located in the northwestern part of Bavaria, is home to a lot of Hoernleins. The town of Dettelbach, located southwest of Erlangen, is a particularly dense area of this family name.

In addition to Germany, Hoernleins can also be found in Austria, although, generally speaking, this family name is more popular in Germany. Hoernleins can also be found in some areas of the United States. In Pennsylvania, for example, Hoernleins are found in the Lehigh Valley and Reading areas. In the Midwest, many Hoernleins can be found in the Chicago area and in Michigan.

Although Hoernleins are found all over the world, the strongest concentration of this family name is still in Germany. Generally speaking, the Hoernleins living in Germany are descended from one main ancestor, the first generation of Hoernleins that came from Franconia.

The original spelling of the name differs from one family to another, but today the spelling of Hoernlein is most commonly used. Today, the Hoernlein family name has become quite diverse, with many branches and spellings of the name. However, no matter how these branches may have diverged, they all likely still share that common ancestor somewhere in their family tree.

Variations of the surname Hoernlein

The German surname Hoernlein can be found spelled in different variants, with spelling variations including Hoernle, Hoernlee, Hoernley, Hornlein, Hornle, Hornlee, Hornley and many more.

The surname Hoernlein is derived from the Middle High German expression "hornlin" which means a "peculiar noted landmark". This was most likely used to refer to a person who was easily recognizable or lived by a certain landmark. Alternatively, the name may have originated from the Middle High German term "hornen," meaning "horn," suggesting the original bearer of the name was someone who played a horn or was likely known by their sound.

The Hoernlein surname is still quite common in Germany and is also found in Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Alternatives to the Hoernlein surname include Hornlein, Hornle, Hörnl, Horn, Hoernle, Horner, Hornberger, Hörney, Horning, Hornung, and Hörning to name just a few. It is interesting to note that in some instances the name may have been Anglicized over time to an alternative spelling, such as "Horney".

In the United States, the original German-American spelling of Hoernlein eventually evolved over time into an Americanized version where the "e" was replaced with an "a", becoming Horner. This further evolved into other variants, such as Horney, Horny, etc.

Famous people with the name Hoernlein

• Tori Hoernlein, world champion snowboarder.
• William Hoernlein, American football player.
• Erich Hoernlein, German physicist.
• Jocelyn Hoernlein, American swimmer.
• Mannfred Hoernlein, German painter.
• Karl Hoernlein, German photographer.
• Burt Hoernlein, notable American tramporliner.
• Burt Hoernlein Jr., American tramporliner and actor.
• Andrea Hoernlein, German actress.
• Christopher Hoernlein, former associate professor of biology at California State University.
• Peter Hoernlein, Swiss swimmer who specialized in freestyle.
• Francisco Guerrero Hoernlein, Mexican photographer.
• Jah Hoernlein, American comedy writer and performer.
• Hugh Hoernlein, nobility of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Monika Hoernlein, Brazilian singer.
• Simon Hoernlein, organist and composer.
• Tal Montgomery Hoernlein, American wrestler and documentary filmmaker.
• Rhett Hoernlein, American military officer and U.S. ambassador.
• Karl Heinz Hoernlein, German diver.
• Elwood Hoernlein, American race car driver.

Other surnames

HoernleHoernlen