Surname Herberg - Meaning and Origin
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Herberg: What does the surname Herberg mean?
The last name Herberg is a German name meaning "mountain fortress". It can also be traced to the Old German word Heriberg which was derived from the German root heri meaning "army" and berg meaning "mountain or hill". The name is thought to refer to either a fortress or a place that was defended by an army atop a mountain, or the residents of such a place.
Herberg is thought to have originated as an occupational name, related to the profession of the military or a castle guard, or those who built fortresses. It is likely that this last name has descent either from these individuals, or their descendants. Some of the earliest examples of the name in records include Heinricus Seriberg of Heilbron which is in Baden, Germany in 1369, and Jor Parchiez alias Herberg who was a mercenary and from Lodeve in France in 1526.
The Herberg heritage is likely related to the “strong desire for defense and protection” and the “protection that a fortress could offer”. It is also possible that in some cases, the surname was used to refer to someone who lived in the same area as a fortress, or who earned their livelihood as a guard or builder of fortresses.
Today the surname is quite widespread, and is common in both German and French speaking countries. Despite its commonness in some countries, it still has a deep historical and cultural significance, and many members of the Herberg family are proud to carry on their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHerberg: Where does the name Herberg come from?
The last name Herberg is most commonly associated with Germany, as well as countries with substantial German populations including Austria and Hungary. As of 2017, the surname is the 931st most common name in Germany and is ranked in the top 1.5% of surnames there.
The surname also has a significant presence in Switzerland. The Herberg name was originally derived from the Middle High German “her” and “berg”, which roughly translates to “army” and “protection” respectively. This suggests that the original owner of the name had a role in providing protection to his community.
The last name is also found across North and South America, including in the United States. Herberg is among the 10,000 most common surnames in the United States, where it is found in greater concentrations in California, Illinois, and New York.
In short, the last name Herberg is still common in Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and many other countries with German diaspora. It is also found in communities with a history of immigration from German-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Herberg
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Herberg surname are:
Herberger – This is the less common spelling of the Herberg surname.
Hirberger – This is another form of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
Hirbers – A variant spelling of Hirberger, derived from German.
Herburg – This is an alternative spelling of the surname.
Herbourg – A variant spelling of the Herberg surname with an additional letter “u”.
Auricher – This is a variant spelling of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
Heurberger – This is a variant spelling of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
Heurburg – An alternative form of Heurberger.
Ehrberger – This is another form of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
Ehrburg – An alternative form of Ehrberger.
Herbst – This is a variant spelling of the Herberg surname with a double letter “t”.
Herbster – Another variant spelling of the Herberg surname with a double letter “t”.
Harbarger – This is a variant spelling of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
Harburg – An alternative form of Harbarger.
Harberger – This is another form of the Herberg surname, derived from German.
The Herberg surname has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as listed above. Depending on where the ancestors of the name came from and its regional variations, the Holt surname could possibly have additional spellings and surname variations.
Famous people with the name Herberg
- Max Herberg: Painter, known for his landscapes, nature scenes and still-life.
- Otto Herberg: German film actor best known for roles in 1950s romantic comedies.
- Kees Herberg: Dutch actor, comedian, and singer, known for voicing characters in TV and cinema productions.
- Lilo Herberg: German actress and singer, known for roles in movies such asRamping Street and Temptation.
- Hildegard Herberg: German actress known for roles in films such asAuf Wiedersehen and The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum.
- Karl Herberg: German classical cellist and member of the Frankfurt Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Werner Herberg: German-born American cellist, conductor, composer and professor of music.
- Karsten Herberg: German film and television director, known for directing the action/thriller series Hexenjagd.
- Karl Herberg-Eggers: German architect, known for his numerous works featuring Bauhaus and expressionist styles.
- Jürgen Herberg: German journalist and newspaper publisher, best known for the publication of the Stuttgarter Zeitung.