Surname Hollenaugh - Meaning and Origin
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Hollenaugh: What does the surname Hollenaugh mean?
The last name Hollenaugh is of English and German origin. It is derived from the German word holen meaning "to steal" or "to rob" combined with the Germanic suffix auh meaning "height". As a result, the last name Hollenaugh can be taken to mean "hill robber".
The origins of the last name Hollenaugh is believed to be from the Middle Ages, when those named Hollenaugh were specialists who were skilled in stealing goods at night at the summit of hill or mountain, making them elusive to justice-seekers. It is likely that the people taking part in these activities eventually established dynasties and those whose names we still know today.
The surname has adapted over time and now is more linked with the meaning of "one who lives on the hill". For some, the name has been shortened to "Hollon" or "Hollah", which have completely different meanings.
Outside of its origin, Hollenaugh is a relatively rare surname today as it is primarily found only in the countries of the United States, England, Germany, and Canada. In more modern times, the last name Hollenaugh is still associated with the meaning "hill robber" by some members of the family, although most use it simply to represent their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHollenaugh: Where does the name Hollenaugh come from?
The last name Hollenaugh is an Americanized version of the German surname Hollenbach. This surname is still fairly common in the United States, with around 5,400 people bearing the Hollenaugh family name. The majority of Hollenaughs live in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, with Pennsylvania having the largest concentration.
Around 1,400 Hollenaugh people reside in Pennsylvania, primarily in Pittsburgh and other cities of Allegheny, Bucks, and Montgomery counties. Another somewhat large concentration of Hollenaughs is in the state of Ohio, with approximately 1,000 carrying the family name. Ohioans with the surname are concentrated in finds its epicenter in Coshocton County and radiates out to Summit, Hancock, and other counties. There are also a significant number of Hollenaughs in Indiana, New York, and Massachusetts.
The Hollenaugh surname is also present in some other countries, mainly in other parts of the English-speaking world. There are some in Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and other nations with large numbers of English-speakers. This indicates that some of the American Hollenaughs in all likelihood descended from English and Scottish immigrants who adopted the Americanized version of the name.
In conclusion, although the Hollenaugh last name is more common in some parts of the United States than others, the family name is still widely distributed today.
Variations of the surname Hollenaugh
The surname Hollenaugh has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Hollanaugh, Hollenaugh, Hollanan, Hollenan, Hollonaugh, Hallenbaugh, Hallenbeck, Hollenbeak, Hollinaugh, Holenbaugh, Holenbeck, Hollabaugh, Hollobaugh, Holloway, Hollway, Holloay, Holloway, Hallaway, Halloway, Hollaway, Hollawey, and Hollawy.
The spelling variations are most likely a result of the regional variant of the English language tradition that existed in the American colonies during the colonial period. English was not an official language during this time period and settlers who immigrated to America’s shores spoke a variety of different dialects. Therefore, many spelling variations existed when it came to American surnames.
The spelling variations of Hollenaugh were also likely the result of the influence of other languages spoken in the colonies. German and French were the two languages most commonly spoken by settlers in colonial America, and the surname could have adopted the spellings of those languages as well. For example, the spelling of Hollenaugh could have been influenced by the German word ‘von’ which means ‘of’. Additionally, it is possible that the spelling variations were also influenced by spelling preferences of the people who actually documented the name in official records such as census documents or land records.
The surname Hollenaugh has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. This is likely the result of the regional and language differences of the colonial period as well as the preferences of people who documented the name in official records.
Famous people with the name Hollenaugh
- Christopher Hollenaugh: American sprint canoer who has competed since the early 1990s. He won the bronze medal in the C-2 500 m event at the 1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.
- Dr. Dan Hollenaugh, Jr.: Industrial Archaeologist and Mechanical Engineer. He is also the author of several books and papers on industrial archaeology and locomotive mechanical design.
- Patrick Hollenaugh: Lead Singer and Guitarist for the Indie-Rock band 'The Life and Times'
- John Hollenaugh: Professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter
- Mark Hollenaugh: American Musician and songwriter known for producing music featured in films, television shows and commercials.
- Matt Hollenaugh: Former competitive Wrestler who competed at the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament three times.
- Bill Hollenaugh: Former Professional Baseball Player who played for the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Dan Hollenaugh: Radio Broadcaster best known for hosting "The Dan Hollenaugh Show" on Sports Radio 1380AM.
- Mike Hollenaugh: Creator and producer of the syndicated radio program "Gospel Music Today".
- Susan Hollenaugh: American poet and novelist whose work has been featured in multiple poetry magazines and anthologies.