Surname Hörwig - Meaning and Origin
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Hörwig: What does the surname Hörwig mean?
The last name Hörwig is of German origin, and it is believed to be derived from the Old Germanic language. The name likely comes from the word "hore," meaning "horn," and "wicket," meaning "fight." This combination of terms could denote someone who was a renowned fighter who used a horn as a battle instrument.
The name also could have originated from the Latin word "horus," which means a soldier, and the suffix "wig," which was a variation of the word "vic," or "victory." This name may denote someone who was a great soldier and victorious in battle.
Throughout history, the name Hörwig was often used in German and European nobility. Many different branches of this family later spread throughout the world, including to North America and South Africa. Today, this name is still found throughout Germany, and it continues to be a popular last name.
In modern times, Hörwig is seen as a very prestigious last name. People with this last name may be seen as having a strong fighting spirit and courage, as this could have been the initial attributions given to some of the first bearers of the name. They may also be seen as successful, proud, and respected individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisHörwig: Where does the name Hörwig come from?
The last name Hörwig is still quite common in some parts of Germany, particularly in the south and the southwest. It is believed to have originated there many centuries ago. In particular, It is very common in Baden-Württemberg, where over 16,000 people bearing the name were recorded during the most recent official census in 2015.
Hörwig is also a quite common name in the northern regions of neighbouring Bavaria. For example, when the 2018 Bavarian address book was published, it listed almost 7000 individuals with this last name living within the state.
The name is not only associated with Germany however, as it can also be found in other European countries such as Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and even France. Furthermore, thanks to German immigrants, it is even possible to find individuals with the name living in places such as the United States, Latin America and other distant destinations.
Regardless of where it is found, the last name Hörwig is thought to have originally derived from the German ‘Hörwige’ which translates to ‘listener’ or one who is sent to attend to reports. As such, it is likely that a person with this last name would have likely served in an official role in the past.
Variations of the surname Hörwig
Variants of the surname Hörwig include Hörwieck, Hörwyck, Hoerwieck, Hoerwyck, Hoerwijck, and Hoorwijck.
Hörwig is a patronymic surname, which means it was formed from the name of the father of the initial bearer. From the Germanic pre-6th century personal name "Horwid" or "Herwid". It is a compound name composed of two elements: "hrod" - renown and "wido" - wood.
The modern spelling is similar in most German speaking countries. German records from 16th and 17th centuries show a wide variety in the spelling of the surname, as well as a variety of regional spelling variations, including Hörwieg, Hörwiek, Horwieg, Horwiek, Horwyck and Horwijck.
In addition, some variant spellings of Hörwig may represent other surnames spelled differently, such as Harwig, Hirwig and Hoerwik. In some instances, these surnames could be of Jewish origin, as only Jews were allowed to change their surnames during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The use of these different spellings of the Hörwig name is a good reminder of how spelling, name changes and regional influences affected the surnames of our ancestors. It is good practice to try different spelling variations when researching any family name.
Famous people with the name Hörwig
- Christian Hörwig: German actor.
- Immo Hörwig: German crocodile farmer and television presenter.
- Dieter Hörwig: German composer, arranger and guitarist.
- Werner Hörwig: German actor and former school principal.
- Markus Hörwig: Former German professional football player.
- Christiane Hörwig: German actress and model.
- Johann Hörwig: German architect.
- Horst Hörwig: German track and field athlete.
- Elisabeth Hörwig: Former Austrian cross-country skier.
- Anja Hörwig: German fashion designer.