Surname Houdershell - Meaning and Origin

Houdershell: What does the surname Houdershell mean?

The last name Houdershell is an occupational name deriving from Middle English hudde, meaning "hider." This name was first used to describe a person who worked in leather manufacturing, specifically those who sewed hides together into larger leather products.

In early days, leather products would be used for a variety of purposes, including clothing, rugs, and furniture. The name Houdershell likely denoted someone who was directly involved in the production of leather goods, responsible for the sewing and stitching of pieces together.

The family name is also seen spelled as Huddershell, Hudereshel, Hudershall and Hudersole. These variations are not uncommon when it comes to a name that has been passed down through multiple generations and likely derived from different language dialects.

The last name Houdershell appears to have first appeared in England, though its exact origins remain a mystery. It is possible that individuals with this surname left Britain centuries ago and settled elsewhere, resulting in the name becoming more widespread.

Today, the name Houdershell is common in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as England and Wales. Individuals who carry this last name may be proud of their history and the Leather Worker their ancestors were – a skilled craftsperson responsible for creating the leather products upon which much of our modern lifestyles rely.

Houdershell: Where does the name Houdershell come from?

The surname Houdershell is most commonly found in the United States, with records showing that the name was first found in Pennsylvania. The largest population of people with this surname are located in Pennsylvania, with records showing that the state has had hundreds of individuals bearing the surname since colonial times. The Houdershells are believed to have immigrated to Pennsylvania from France and Germany at different times over several centuries, with records of the name appearing in records of Land Purchases, County Court Records, Wills, etc. dating back to the 1700s.

Other states that have a large population of people bearing this name include Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New York. In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in the province of Quebec, with records documenting the immigration of the name from France in the late 17th century.

Today, the Houdershell name is still relatively rare, but can still be found in pockets throughout the United States and Canada. Those with the surname are usually spread out over all states and provinces, with only slight concentrations. The increasing diversity of ethnic and migrated people has ensured that the name will continue to remain in the North American population, showing no signs of disappearing in the near future.

Variations of the surname Houdershell

The surname Houdershell, also spelled Houdershel, Hauderdsell, and Haudershell, is of German, Dutch, and English origin. It derives from Houders, meaning “holders,” indicating the occupation of a holder or keeper of something. The middle syllable -er- is Germanic for “army” and the ending -shäll or -ställ derived from the German word “stall,” meaning “encampment” or “place of arms.”

Variants of the name include Haudershel, Haudershell, Hauderschel, and Hauderschal. There is also a version of the name—Hoddersell—which may be a variation of the spelling Houdershell.

One of the earliest recorded versions of the name is Hootershell, which was found on a baptismal document from 1586 in Weesen, Switzerland. Another version—Houderscheld—was found in the baptisms of children born to Adelbert Jansen and Janneken Gosen in 1692 in Holstein, Germany.

Other variations are Haudershelt, Hauderschill, Haudershul, and Hueghershell. In England, the name is often spelled Haudershall.

Anglicized spellings of the name include Affershol, Auerscle, Haudshawl, Hordersell, Hafersaal, Hotershell, Hoerdershall, Hintersial, Hoddersale, and Hetzel.

The name is also found in various spelling combinations, such as Haudersholl, Hordeschel, Houdershull, Haudershull, Hawderschell, Hodderschill, Hudersill, and Hodersele. Common surnames of the same origin include Holderness, Holdenried, Holdmead, Holderley, Harders, Hordern, and Holderish.

Famous people with the name Houdershell

• Peter Houdershell, a former professional American football punter who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League.
• Bobby Houdershell, a former NBA player who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1994.
• Nikki Houdershell, a youtuber and fitness instructor who is the founder of the NikkiFitness brand.
• Griff Houdershell, a former American soccer player and coach who played in the USL A-League and National Professional Soccer League.
• Dr. Littleton Houdershell, a prominent doctor and community leader who founded the Houdershell Clinic in 1935 in West Virginia which provides healthcare services to the underserved.
• Matt Houdershell, an award-winning film editor and cinematographer who has worked on films such as Star Trek Beyond and The Dark Knight Rises.
• Eliza Houdershell, a figurative painter known for her crafts featuring fish, birds, and other wildlife.
• Regan Houdershell, a professional snowboarder who won gold at the 2017 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.
• Jack Houdershell, a record producer, songwriter, and music teacher who has worked with famous artists including Eminem, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Timberlake.
• David Houdershell, an actor who has appeared in several television series and films.

Other surnames

HoudersheldHoudershelt