Surname Höß - Meaning and Origin

Höß: What does the surname Höß mean?

The last name Höß is an old family name of German origin, coming from members of nobility in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German name "Hossa" meaning courage, strength, and character. This name would have been given to people for their bravery during battle.

In more recent times, the name Höß has become common place in the German countryside. In some areas, it is used as a sign of distinction and is thought to be very noble. It is a popular name found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States.

The name is quite unique and has various variants depending on the region it is coming from. For example, it can change from Hoeß to Hesse, or from Höß to Hosse.

The name Höß is usually associated with people who are of strong character, determined and take responsibility for their actions, all traits that have made them popular within German culture.

It is thought that the name may have been an honorary addition to the families of people that served in the military in the past, or may even be related to the Hill family, which is particularly common in parts of Germany.

Overall, the last name Höß is an ancient family name with a long history and strong sense of pride. It is still respected and admired in many areas of the world. It is a symbol of strength and honor and is often used to recognize those with a high degree of integrity and virtue.

Höß: Where does the name Höß come from?

The last name Höß is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic today. It is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word "huss" meaning "house," and it is particularly frequent in the Rhineland region of Germany. The spelling of the name can vary, and other spellings include Hoess, Hoeß, Höss, Hösz, Hösv, or Hess.

In Germany, Höß is the 123rd most common surname and is more popular in the western and southern parts of the country around cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart. In Austria, the name is found primarily in the provinces of Burgenland, Salzburg, Vienna, and Upper Austria. This is due to the geographical proximity to the regions in Germany where it is most frequent.

In Poland, the last name Höß is mainly found in the Łódź region. In the Czech Republic, Höß is the second most common German surname and is found mainly in Prague, Děčín, and Ústí nad Labem.

The variant Hösz is also still in use, especially in Hungary. It originated as an alternate spelling of the surname Höß, likely due to influences from the Hungarian language. There, it’s the 28th most popular surname and mainly found around the capital Budapest.

Overall, the last name Höß is still relatively common in the countries of Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Hungary, but its frequency varies depending on the location.

Variations of the surname Höß

The surname Höß (also spelled 'Hoeß', 'Hoess' and 'Hoesser') is a German family name that has been widely recorded in Germany since the early Middle Ages. The earliest recorded forms of the name are found in Bavaria in the 11th century and were used by a number of noble families.

The variants of the surname Höß are commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The name is also found in the United States, United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries.

Höß is derived from the Middle High German word 'hos', meaning 'messenger', while some variants are derived from the Middle High German word 'hosse', meaning 'woodcutter'. The ancient meanings of the names indicate that many original bearers of the surname were tradespeople, craftsmen, or farmers.

Variants of the surname Höß include Hosse, Hoesse, Hoeß, Hoess, Hoesser and Hoß. There are also alternate spellings of the surname including Hoß, Hös and Hößer.

Additional surnames of similar origin to Höß include Höff, Hofen, Hoffmann, Hoffer, HoffScheid, Hösgen, Hust, Huss and Huz. These surnames are particularly common in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, but are also found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other English speaking countries.

In conclusion, the surname Höß is widely recorded in Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom. Variants of the surname include Hosse, Hoesse, Hoeß, Hoess, Hoesser and Hoß. There are also alternate spellings and surnames of similar origin such as Höff, Hofen, Hoffmann, Hoffer, HoffScheid, Hösgen, Hust, Huss, and Huz.

Famous people with the name Höß

• Rudolf Höß: Commander of Auschwitz concentration camp.
• Heinrich Höß: SS Hauptsturmführer and concentration camp supervisor.
• Bernd Höß: German historian.
• Kurt Höß: SS-Obergruppenführer and commander of Auschwitz.
• Otto Höß: German SS concentration camp commandant at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp during World War II.
• Günter Höß: SS officer and concentration camp officer who served as commandant of Dachau concentration camp.
• Edgar Höß: SS officer at the Dachau concentration camp.
• Heinz Höß: former SS Untersturmführer at Auschwitz who served as camp physician.
• Ernst Höß: German SS officer and concentration camp commandant.
• Arno Höß: German serial killer.
• Jürgen Höß: SS-Hauptsturmführer responsible for organizing mass shootings and deportations to Auschwitz.
• Klaus Höß: German composer.
• Erika Höß: German athlete.
• Joachim Höß: German sculptor.
• Ingrid Höß: German nurse and peace activist.
• Franz-Josef Höß: German Catholic priest and theologian.
• Robert Höß: Opera director.
• Emil Höß: German World War II Luftwaffe pilot

Other surnames

Hößelbarth