Surname Horlacher - Meaning and Origin
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Horlacher: What does the surname Horlacher mean?
The last name Horlacher is derived from the Germanic words hrod (meaning "renown") and lachar (meaning "stream"). The name is thus generally interpreted to mean "stream of renown" or "renowned stream".
The family name is most common in the areas of Switzerland and Germany, in particular in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, suggesting the name originated in those regions. The surname may be associated with noble families of the medieval period who held land in these areas.
The Horlacher lineage has produced notable individuals over the centuries, from renowned lawyers and scholars to successful businesspeople and authors. Some Horlachers have made their mark in politics, including Josef Horlacher, the former mayor of the Swiss town of Pratteln, and Guglielmo Guglielmi-Horlacher, the former mayor of the Italian commune of Saint Agatha (now Sant’Agata de’ Goti).
In the present day, the last name Horlacher continues to be found across Europe, as well as in North and South America. Those bearing the name can be proud of their heritage, as it carries with it a legacy of ambition, hard work, and success.
Order DNA origin analysisHorlacher: Where does the name Horlacher come from?
The last name Horlacher is most commonly found in northwestern Switzerland, particularly in the highly populous region of St. Gallen. This surname is largely clustered in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, as well as the surrounding areas of St. Gallen. It is also found in the canton of Aargau.
The most recent statistics from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office show that in 2019, the surname was the 1,688th most common name in Switzerland. Horlacher is thought to be a toponymic name derived from a variety of locations in and around the cantons of Appenzell Outer Rhodes and St. Gallen, including the village of Horlach in the municipality of Waagnacht.
The name is also found outside of Switzerland, particularly in the United States. Urban sprawl and economic opportunities have caused many Swiss to emigrate to America over the years, and the Horlacher name has travelled with them. It is most heavily represented in states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as in other scattered locations throughout the US.
Today, the last name Horlacher is still relatively rare, but it continues to be used both in Switzerland and throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Horlacher
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Horlacher include: Harlacher, Harlecher, Harlacker, Harlecker, Harleecker, Harlicker, Horlacher, Horlecher, Horlacker, Horlecker, Horleecker and Horlicker. These variants are derived from the Middle High German word “horlecher”, which means “forest dweller”. The surname Horlacher is believed to have originated in the former duchy of Swabia, which is part of the modern German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is thought to have derived from people who lived in or near a forest, although the exact origin of the name is uncertain.
The surname is found in early records in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other parts of Europe. It is also found in America, where immigrants with the surname Horlacher and its variants arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the surname Horlacher is typically spelled with one of its many variants in both Europe and North America, depending upon the family's region of origin. The variants allow for a measure of variety—without changing the original meaning of the name.
Famous people with the name Horlacher
- Tom Horlacher: an American sports broadcaster, best known for being a play-by-play man for Major League Soccer and the National Football League.
- Nicholas Horlacher: a photojournalist and an artist currently working in East Africa.
- Johnny Horlacher: a professional ice hockey player who competed in the Swiss National League.
- Kalen Horlacher: a professional basketball player who has played in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).
- Gordon Horlacher: an artist and book illustrator who co-created the cartoon strip "Li'l Dot".
- Rabbi Walter Horlacher: the former rabbi of the Congregation Sons of Israel in Long Beach, New York.
- Bill Horlacher: an American golfer who competed in the PGA Tour from 1943 to 1964.
- Jacqueline Horlacher: an American painter based in the Philadelphia area.
- David Horlacher: an American-born composer and digital artist based in Berlin, Germany.
- Joseph George Horlacher: a Swiss-born comic book artist.
- Jim Horlacher: an American politician, and former Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
- Robert Horlacher: a German philologist, and Professor Emeritus of Stanford University.
- Bernd Horlacher: an Austrian mountaineer and author, known for his Alpine ascent firsts.
- Anthony Horlacher: an American thriller writer and author of the award-winning novel South of the Border.