Surname Houdensheld - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Houdensheld: What does the surname Houdensheld mean?
The last name Houdensheld is a Dutch patronymic surname, meaning “son of Houden”. The given name “Houden” comes from the Old Dutch words “houden” and “helden”, meaning “hold” and “hero”. It is believed that this surname was given to ancestors of the family as a tribute to legendary figure whose heroic feats were more legend than fact.
The holders of the Houdensheld surname may have come from the United Provinces of the Netherlands or Artois, an area now known as France. The immigrants who carried it to other parts of Europe, and eventually to America, were likely among the earliest from these towns to seek a new life. There is a town called “Houdensfeld” located in Germany and is also likely an origin point of the surname.
The surname Houdensheld is a unique one, and it has been adopted by families of various backgrounds over the centuries. Those who bear the name today are undoubtedly proud descendants of a brave, heroic ancestor and the many generations who followed him. The unique combination of two Dutch words, “houden” and “helden,” create an inspiring statement about the courage and strength of the family's forebear.
Order DNA origin analysisHoudensheld: Where does the name Houdensheld come from?
The last name Houdensheld is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is derived from a Norman French surname originating in the medieval period, and is also found in countries bordering the Netherlands, such as Belgium and Luxembourg.
The name is most commonly found in the region of South Holland, a highly populated area of the Netherlands, which includes the main cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, and Delft. Other places in the Netherlands where the name is commonly recorded include Gelderland, Utrecht, Groningen, Friesland, Limburg, North Holland, and Zeeland.
The earliest instances of Houdensheld in the Netherlands date back to the late 13th century. It is also found in the Netherlands somewhere between 1681 and 1683, while records from 1740 to 1790 show the name as being most prevalent in the Netherlands.
Because of the Netherlands’ close proximity to other parts of Europe, the Houdensheld surname is also present in some parts of Europe, albeit at much lower rates than in the Netherlands. Houdensheld has been recorded in other countries such as Germany, Poland, France, and even the United States.
The last name Houdensheld still remains popular today in the Netherlands and in other countries in Europe and beyond.
Variations of the surname Houdensheld
The surname Houdensheld is a surname with a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of this surname are Houdenshel, Houdenshelk, and Houdenshell. These variants are believed to have originated in Germany, where it appeared as Houdenshels and Houdenshelk in records as early as the 16th century.
Other variants of the same surname include Haudenschel, Haudenschelk, Haudenschell, Haudenshilt, Haudenschilt, Houdenschiel, Houdenshield, Houdensheldt, Haiehenshel, Haijenschol, and Hehinshel. Variants of this surname may also be found in America, where it was adapted into the Americanizing spellings of Haudenschell, Haudenhell, and Haudenshildt.
Surnames of the same origin may include Houdenschildt, Houdansheld, Houdinschildt, Haudonshilt, Haudenscheidt, Hauthshel, Houkenshelk, and Hahronshell. These surnames all likely stem from the German surname “Houdenshel”.
There are also various surname spellings which may be related to the name Houdensheld. These include Hoedenshel, Hoedenschil, Huedenshil, Huidenshel, Heidenshell, Haiedenscheil, Haiedenshill, Haienschipf, and Heudenschel.
Given the variety of spellings and surnames of the same origin, it is likely that the surname Houdensheld has been adapted and changed over time. As such, further research into the origin and history of the name is recommended in order to fully understand its history and all its variants.
Famous people with the name Houdensheld
- Charles J. Houdensheld: Olympic gold medal-winning water skier.
- George Henry Houdensheld: Medal of Honor recipient for his service in World War I.
- Shawn Houdensheld: Founding principal of Metz Middle School in Belleville, Illinois
- William Houdensheld: Professional ice hockey player and Father's Day high jumper
- Otto Houdensheld: Neverov Artist
- Emil Houdensheld: Major League Baseball player
- Stephen Houdensheld: Former American football player
- John Houdensheld: Founder and former CEO of X-Net Technologies
- Bob Houdensheld: Professional poker player
- Michael Houdensheld: Computer security consultant and expert witness on various computer security topics
- Colleen Houdensheld: Professional women’s golf coach in Florida
- Jeremy Houdensheld: Playwright, composer and lyricist
- Fred Houdensheld: Art Director and former Dean of the Department of Art and Design at The Ohio State University
- Barbara Houdensheld: Author and governor of Utah during the 1990s
- Alice Houdensheld: Children’s book illustrator and recipient of the 2021 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award
- Jack Houdensheld: NPR Vote Your Values host and spokesperson for the ACLU
- Curtis Houdensheld: Actor, most popularly known for his appearance in the television series The Dead Zone.