Surname Heininger - Meaning and Origin

Heininger: What does the surname Heininger mean?

The last name Heininger is an attractive and distinctive German patronymic surname derived from Hein (Heinrich) as a short form of Heinrich, which in turn comes from the Germanic element haim (Home/House). The surname Heininger literally translates to “descendant of a dwelling keeper” - while the suffix “er” is the German form of '-son’.

The name Heininger also suggests a region of origin, as the word “Hein” is of particular regional origin. Specifically, the surname originated in Bavaria, where it was most may have first been used by those responsible for the supervision of estates or households.

As far as its coat of arms is concerned, the Heininger family has a long history of heraldic emblems. The shield of the Heininger family consists of a white field with a number of blue and black elements, key among which are two chevron and an eagle. It is believed that this particular arrangement was adopted in the first part of the 17th century, most likely by a member of the family looking to distinguish himself.

The surname has been popular throughout Germany for centuries, and it is still in use in some areas to this day. It has been modified for use in other countries, with variants such as Heilinger, Heininger, and Heinnigar. As Heininger spread around the world, it may have taken on slightly different forms depending on the language and culture of those that adopted it.

Heininger: Where does the name Heininger come from?

The last name Heininger is most commonly found in Germany, the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, and Brazil. In the United States, the Heininger name is most commonly concentrated in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Michigan.

Heininger is an occupational surname derived from the German heiniger, which pertained to a variety of professions including a collector of tolls, a barber, a hinderer (one who blocked a road) or an armed squire (one who managed a herder’s job). Variations of the name include Heininger, Hainiger, Hayniger, and Hiniger.

In the United States, where the last name is most widely found, there are over 3,000 people with the Heininger surname. The greatest concentrations of Heiningers in the US are concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Michigan.

Due to German ancestry, the name is most commonly found among those of Germanic descent. However, Heiningers have spread throughout the world paternally and maternally, making the name more diverse than it was in the past.

Variations of the surname Heininger

Heininger is a German surname with multiple spelling and variants. One of the most common forms of the Heininger surname is Heininger/Haininger/Haeninger, derived from the Middle High German word “haine” – meaning “homestead”.

The variations of the Heininger surname are Heininger, Hanynger, Haininger, Heyninger, Heining, Heineing, Henninger, Heninger, Henneinger, Heeninger and Heiningen.

Variants of the Heininger surname are also found in other languages, such as the French Henin, Hennin and Hennet, and the Dutch Hennink and Henninkhof.

Surnames that are considered to be of the same origin as Heininger include Haines, Hainer, Hainzinger, Hainerd, and Heinzinger.

In some cases, the surname can be found in the feminine form Heiningerin or Hanyngerin, with variants including Heyningerin, Hainingerin, Heyningerin, Heineinging, Henningerin, Heningerin, Henneingerin, Heeningerin and Heiningenin.

Other common surnames that are of the same origin as Heininger include Haines, Haner, Hainzinger, Hainerd, Heininger, Heineing, Henninger, Heninger, Henneinger, Heeninger, Heinzinger, Hanynger, Haininger, Heyninger, Heining, and Heiningen.

The Heininger surname can also be found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Famous people with the name Heininger

• Bryce Heininger: Bryce Heininger is a professional basketball player in Germany. He currently plays for Brose Bamberg, where he has been since 2015.
• Shelly Heininger: Shelly Heininger is an American swimmer, currently competing with the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines.
• Jens Heininger: Jens Heininger is a German writer, known as one of the most influential of the post-war generation. He is particularly known for his science-fiction works.
• Heinz Heininger: Heinz Heininger was a German actor, best known for appearing in numerous films throughout the 1950s and 60s.
• Christoph Heininger: Christoph Heininger is a German photographer, best known for winning a number of awards for his works featuring animals and birds in their natural environment.
• Peter Heininger: A Swiss musician and composer, Peter Heininger's works have featured in films, television shows, and video games.
• August Heininger: Augustus Heininger was a German theologian, who wrote several books on the subject of religion and spirituality.
• Michael Heininger: Michael Heininger is a German animator and film director, who has won a number of awards for his work.
• Erwin Heininger: Erwin Heininger was an Austrian gynecologist, who made numerous contributions to the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
• Wolfgang Heininger: Wolfgang Heininger was a German sculptor and painter, associated with the Dada movement.

Other surnames

HeiningHeinings