Surname Terheyde - Meaning and Origin

Terheyde: What does the surname Terheyde mean?

The last name Terheyde is of Dutch origin, and is a habitational name derived from a place name in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It is associated with the Old Dutch word ‘heid’, which means ‘heath’ or ‘clearing’, and is thought to refer to someone who came from a heath or an area covered in coarse grasses.

The family name is thought to have originated from the Terheyde heaths, which developed in a large wetlands area which became inundated with water in heavy rains, and where wildlife flourished in the heath areas. These terrains made them very attractive to hunters, and the family name also came to be linked with hunting.

The family name may also be linked to the ancient Germanic custom of naming families after landmarks in the landscape, so it could have come originally from a particular house, estate, village, or even a local piece of wasteland or swampland.

Today, people bearing the last name Terheyde are likely to be found in the Netherlands and in its former colonial territories in the region of Indonesia, from where it was brought by Dutch settlers during the colonial era. People bearing this name can also be found in other places around the world, including in the United States.

Terheyde: Where does the name Terheyde come from?

The last name Terheyde is most commonly found in Germany. It is a fairly uncommon last name but tends to be most concentrated in the western region of the country. It can also be found in other countries around Central Europe, including the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, and Poland.

The earliest known record of the Terheyde surname can be found in Münster, Germany in 1607. The family is believed to have originated in the western German states of Rhineland Palatinate and Westphalia.

Throughout the following centuries, the Terheyde surname has spread throughout other regions of Europe. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was a large emigration of people with the Terheyde surname to the United States. Many of the descendants of these original emigrants now reside in cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Denver.

Despite having a large presence in the United States, the most concentrated population of people with the Terheyde surname still resides in Germany. Even within Germany, the Terheyde last name is fairly rare with only around 1,500 people bearing the name in the entire country. However, many of the family's descendants are connected through online family groups, websites, and family reunions, increasing the connection between the different branches of the surname's descendants.

Variations of the surname Terheyde

The spelling and surname variants of Terheyde include Terhede, Terheide, Terhiede, Terhude, Terhuide, Terrahede, Terraheide, Terrahiede, Terrahude, Terrahuide, Tervelde, Terveltde, Tervelte, Terwelde, Terweltde, Terwelte, and Terwylde.

This surname is of Old Germanic origin, meaning “one who dwells in the threshing hall”. The modern spelling would be Thurhaude. It is derived from the words “thurh” meaning “threshing hall” and “haude” which was an occupational name given to a person who either worked in or ran a threshing hall.

Due to regional dialects, surnames of this origin can vary widely and spelling may have changed over time. Another variant, Terwyld, is derived from words meaning "...from the field of wolves".

Due to its Old Germanic origin, the surname Terheyde has spread to Dutch and Dutch-German countries, as well as the United States. In Germany, it is found mainly in the northwest, as well as northern Germany, and the Netherlands, particularly in Friesland and Groningen. In the United States, this surname is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Overall, the surname Terheyde is one of the oldest and most established Germanic surnames with a rich history and multiple variants. Its meaning, as well as its similarity with other surnames, are clear indicators of its Germanic roots.

Famous people with the name Terheyde

• Gerhard Terheyde: a German typographer, type designer and calligrapher
• Karolina Terheyde: German farmer and activist in the 1860s
• Michael Terheyde: German professor of anatomy, medicine, and surgery at University of Tübingen
• Heinz Terheyde: German actor and director
• Adolf Terheyde: German lawyer and politician in the 19th century
• Wilm Terheyde: German sculptor active in the 20th century
• Jochen Terheyde: German painter and architect active in the 1960s and 1970s
• Jochen Terheyde-Tillman: German physicist and astrophysicist
• Christiane Terheyde: German poet and editor
• Lutz Terheyde: German film actor in the 50s and 60s

Other surnames

Terheyden