Surname Eichelhart - Meaning and Origin
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Eichelhart: What does the surname Eichelhart mean?
The last name Eichelhart is believed to have originated from Germany in the late 13th century. The original spelling is believed to be Eckenhart which was later changed to Eichelhart. It is of pre 9th century German origin, and is derived from the Old High German "ecken" meaning "corner" and "hard" meaning "strong".
This name could have been given to an individual or family that owned a house of residence located at the corner of two roads. It's not uncommon for names to develop from homestead locations during this time period, especially in rural Germany. It's also possible that this German family was well known for their strength, hence the reference to being "strong".
Eichelhart is also the name of a municipality located in the district of Groß-Gerau, in Hesse, Germany. This small village is situated near the Rhine River and it's believed that this could be the origin of the meaning behind the surname.
Nowadays, the Eichelhart surname is spread across countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It has become popular with people of many different backgrounds and cultures, making it a great representation of a global family.
Order DNA origin analysisEichelhart: Where does the name Eichelhart come from?
The last name Eichelhart is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. In the United States, Eichelhart is most commonly found in the northwestern states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; in the Upper Midwest states of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota; and in the Southeast states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. In Canada, the name is most commonly found in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario.
The most likely origin of the surname Eichelhart is that it is derived from a village or hamlet in Southern Germany, probably in the vicinity of Baden-Wurttemberg or Bavaria. The earliest known records of the name in any form comes from the area around Baden-Wurttemberg and dates back to the 16th century.
Today, the Eichelhart surname can be found in a wide variety of places around the world. While the largest concentrations of people bearing the name are found in the US and Canada, the name is also well-represented in Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of Europe, including Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. There are also concentrations of people with the surname found in South America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Variations of the surname Eichelhart
The surname Eichelhart is derived from the German word "eichel," meaning "acorn." The spelling of this surname is most commonly found as Eichelhart, though it may also be seen as Eichelhärter, Eichel Herz, and even Eichelhard.
Variants of the surname include Ichalhart, Ichelhart, Eichelard, Üchelhard, Üchelhärter, and Eichler. Depending on the source, various spellings of these variants may be seen. For example, "Eichelhärter" may be recorded as "Eichelharter," "Ichalhart" may be recorded as "Ichelhart," and "Eichelard" may be recorded as "Echelard."
Surnames associated with Eichelhart as stemming from the same family include Eisenhart, Eisenthal, Eichenthal, Eichelthal, Einfeld, and Eisfeld. While the base word is not the same as Eichelhart, each surname has a shared origin and could represent branches of a single, large family. In this case, "Eis" stands for "iron," "Eich" is related to "oak," and "Thal" is related to "valley." Many of these surnames have a similar meaning and it's possible that they are all derived from a single ancestor.
The various variants and spellings of the Eichelhart surname are a reflection of how the name has evolved over the centuries. Different forms of the name continue to appear throughout the world as a result of immigration and geographical separation. As migration patterns have changed and language standards have shifted, so too have the various spellings of the name.
Famous people with the name Eichelhart
- Matt Eichelhart: Former President of the International Motor Sports Association.
- Cy Eichelhart: Former racecar driver and professional mechanic.
- Robert Eichelhart: Professional ice hockey player who has most recently played for the Phoenix Coyotes in the National Hockey League.
- William Eichelhart: United States Service airman, Navy Cross recipient, and aeronautics engineer.
- Lothar Eichelhart: German conductor, professor, and National Youth Music Infrastructure Ambassador.
- Ralf Eichelhart: Professional skier competing in speed skiing, downhill, slalom, and giant slalom events.
- Günter Eichelhart: German Olympic sport shooter and former world record holder in prone rifle shooting.
- Peter Eichelhart: German flutist and music professor.
- Johann Eichelhart: Bavarian composer and organist, best known for his oratorios and motets during the Baroque period.
- Godfrey Eichelhart: British abbot and educator, prior of Ely Abbey and professor of philosophy at Oxford University.