Surname Hager - Meaning and Origin
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Hager: What does the surname Hager mean?
Hager is a surname of German origin. In the German language, it signifies a person who lived or worked near a hedged or enclosed piece of land, indicating either an agricultural worker or someone who lived near a common pasture or village green area. The name was composed of two parts: "hag," which means hedge, and the suffix "-er," which showed a direct association with a location or occupation. Hence, the Hager surname typically pointed to someone who was connected with a hedged enclosure in the medieval period. Other variations of this surname include Heger, Haeger, and Hagger among others. As with many surnames, it's important to remember that the specific meaning could vary based on how and when the name was originally given. It is classified under the category of 'habitational names,' derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Overall, the Hager surname is an example of how many last names have roots in geographical locations or occupations.
Order DNA origin analysisHager: Where does the name Hager come from?
The surname Hager originates from Germany and is a topographic name for someone who lived by a hedge or a particular enclosure. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hac", which translates to "hedge" or "enclosed pasture". The surname could also possibly be a habitational name derived from any of the several places named Hagen in Germany.
Despite its European origins, Hager is a common last name in numerous countries today. While it is still prevalent in Germany, you can also find many Hagers in the United States, which is likely a result of the country's past waves of German immigration. In America, it is most common in the state of Pennsylvania, but has a significant presence in other parts of the country as well. Additionally, the last name Hager can also be found in Canada and other parts of the English-speaking world. It's worth noting that the distribution of the Hager surname is not limited to these areas and may be found in various places across the globe.
Variations of the surname Hager
The surname Hager is of German, Jewish (Ashkenazic), Danish, and Norwegian origin. "Hager" itself means 'hedge' or 'enclosure' in these languages. Variants and alternative spellings for this family name, due to regional dialects, immigration, translation or misspellings, could include: Haggar, Hagger, Hagerman, Heger, Haeger, Häger, Hagerer, and Haggen.
In some cases, it could also be an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German "hager" which meant 'woodcutter' or 'coppicer' and also from German Jewish 'Hag' standing for 'garden', referring to someone who owned or worked in a vegetable garden.
The surname has spread across Europe and the Americas due to migration, resulting in versions such as Hagerty and Haggerty in Ireland or Hegerova and Hagerova in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, with the "ova" suffix denoting female lineage.
A popular variant is Hagar, which was brought to Scottish and Irish regions by Norsemen, and became ingrained into those cultures. All these versions share a common ancestry tying back to the initial origins of the surname Hager.
In America, some families who originally held the surname Hager may have Anglicized it to Hagar to ease assimilation. Variations in its spelling are not uncommon in records from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Famous people with the name Hager
- Sammy Hagar: An American rock vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and musician who rose to fame in the 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose. He later launched a successful solo career and replaced David Lee Roth as the lead singer of Van Halen.
- Jenna Bush Hager: A television personality, author and journalist. She is the younger of the fraternal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.
- John Hager: An American politician who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002. He was the father of Jenna Bush Hager's husband, Henry Hager.
- Molly Hager: An American actress best known for her role in the Broadway musical "Waitress."
- Henry Hager: An investment firm employee who is married to Jenna Bush Hager. He previously worked on George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.
- Steve Hager: An American writer, journalist, filmmaker, and counterculture and cannabis rights activist. He served as the editor-in-chief of High Times magazine.
- Tully Hager: An award-winning Australian author.