Surname Herstraß - Meaning and Origin
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Herstraß: What does the surname Herstraß mean?
The last name Herstraß is a German name which originate from the word "Herstrasse", which was commonly used to describe a road construction or a road near a house or farm. It was also used to refer to a bundle of straw that is laid out on a road in front of a house of farm as a dust suppressant.
The last name Herstraß is believed to be derived from the German words her and straße, which can be translated to mean ‘road’ or ‘street’ respectively. The Her is believed to have originated from the personal name Herr, which is derived from the Old High German herio, meaning master, or from a Germanic personal name that includes the element hers, meaning army. Therefore, the literal translation of the name Herstraß is ‘house on the street’, which was likely a descriptive name for a person who lived on the side of a road or near a road.
In later times, other additions to the original name may have been applied, such as from geographical locations like regions or townships the family may have emigrated from. The ‘straß’ could also have been changed from a ‘-strasse’ to a ‘-straße’, which denotes an older spelling and is still used in some German speaking regions.
Therefore, the name Herstraß is believed to have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a road or street and has evolved over time with additions from various sources.
Order DNA origin analysisHerstraß: Where does the name Herstraß come from?
The last name Herstraß is not common today, but it can be found scattered throughout Germany, particularly in the former East German states, such as Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also found in the United States and Canada, although at a much lower frequency. The surname is an occupational name, derived from German word 'herzstrasse', meaning "highway". It is likely that the name was adopted by workers in the transportation or merchant trade.
In Germany, the name is still fairly plentiful in some areas, especially in the eastern German states. The Herstraß family can typically be found in cities such as Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig. Additionally, there are instances of Herstraß family members can be found in other locations throughout Germany.
In the United States, Herstraß is not common and is found primarily in the Midwest and New England states. For example, in Wisconsin, Herstraß family members settled in small communities like Fond du Lac and Manitowoc County. The same holds true for Michigan, where Herstraß families were found clustered around areas like Lansing and Kalamazoo.
The name is a rare and exotic surname, and its significance is hard to find. For the few families that do bear the name today, it likely serves as a reminder of their heritage and occupational history.
Variations of the surname Herstraß
Herstraß is an uncommon German surname of ancient origins. Its variant spellings are Herstrasse, Herstrass and Herstras.
Its etymology can be traced back to the Imperial German Empire, when the majority of last names were derived from an ancestral profession, geographical origin or family name. In this instance, the name Herstraß likely referred to a family whose original home lay near a road or street, typically denoted by a suffix indicating 'straße' or 'street'.
Herstraß is also an anglicised version of the surname Hermanns Straße. Not only can this version be explained in the same way as Herstraß when considering the original meaning, it also reflects the family name of Hermann and their place of settlement.
The surname has several cognate forms, including Herrewood, Herrens and Herrwien, all of which are derivatives of the same origin.
The surname is not particularly popular in Germany, but can still be found in a few areas, mostly in the Bavarian region. It can also be found in parts of Austria, Netherlands and the United States, most likely due to migrations of Herstraß families over time.
The surname is typically spelled ‘Herstraß’ when searching for family records and origins.
Famous people with the name Herstraß
- Niki Lauda: Austrian retired Formula One driver and three-time F1 World champion.
- Diether von Herstraß: German politician of the Christian Democratic Union.
- Florian Herstraß: German photographer and filmmaker, known for his works on the Neo-Latin subjects and Afro-Polynesian cultures.
- Yannick Herstraß: German footballer who is currently playing for Werder Bremen.
- Thorsten Herstraß: German cinematographer and occasional actor.
- Uwe Herstraß: German football former player who had a career with FC Union Berlin.
- Friedrich Herstraß: German professor of zoology at the University of Göttingen.
- Rupert Herstraß: Austrian film producer and director.
- Pia Herstraß: German actress and model.
- Jochen Herstraß: German former footballer who had a career with VfL Bochum 1848.