Surname Herzberger - Meaning and Origin

Herzberger: What does the surname Herzberger mean?

The last name Herzberger is a variant spelling of the German surname Hertzberger, derived from the Middle High German phrase ‘herz berger’, which literally translates to ‘heart protector’. This likely refers to the original bearer of the name being a protector or defender of their family or community, or possibly one with a particularly strong heart or heroic streak.

Typically, the last name Herzberger is associated with Europe, in particular Germany and Austria. It is believed that the Herzbergers likely descended from a Middle High German aristocrat with the same-sounding personal name.

Over time, the surname was spread throughout the German and Austrian regions and smaller settlements located relatively close to each other. As with many surnames, the name Herzberger has slowly but surely been adopted by immigrants and other ethnic groups as they journeyed through the centuries, resulting in variants such as Hertzberg, Heartburger, and Harzburger.

Today, those who bear the Herzberger name are likely descended from one of the original Middle High German settlers and, while many may not remember their distant ancestor’s mission, the ‘heart protector’ moniker is carried on by their name.

Herzberger: Where does the name Herzberger come from?

The last name Herzberger is most commonly found in Germany and Austria, but it can also be found in many other parts of Europe and beyond. In Germany, most Herzbergers live in the states of Bavaria in southern Germany, Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany, and Saarland in western Germany. In Austria, the last name is mostly found in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna.

In the United States, Herzberger is an uncommon last name. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were only 1,534 people with the last name Herzberger in the United States in 2019. The states with the highest population of people with the last name are Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Outside of these three states and Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Herzberger is a very uncommon name.

The last name Herzberger has an interesting origin story. The surname is based on the German name of an old Germanic tribe called the Herzeberger. This tribe was mostly found in Bavaria and its surrounding region along the Rhine River. Over the centuries, family members moved and settled in other parts of Europe and eventually in the United States. The last name is still quite popular among some of the more traditional German and Austrian families.

Variations of the surname Herzberger

The surname Herzberger is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname of German origin. It is commonly transliterated as ‘Herzberger’ or ‘Herzburg’, though other spellings do exist, such as ‘Herzberg’ and ‘Harzburg’. The alternate spelling ‘Hertzberge’ is also sometimes used.

Variants and surnames with the same origin as Herzberger include Herzog, Hertzbach, Herzberg, Herzog, Herz, Herzog, Hertzberg, Hertz, Herzman, Herzberg, Hertzberger, Hertzman, Herzburger, Harzburg, Hartzberg, Hartzburger and Hertzman.

In some cases, the surname Herzberger can be found with the suffix free, a reference to the fact that some bearers of the name were accorded political freedom or belonged to the pauper class in medieval Europe.

The surname Herzberger is also closely associated with several locations in Germany, such as the towns Herzburg palace in Lippe, Herzberg in Lower Saxony and Harzburg in Saxony-Anhalt. In fact, many of the variants, spellings and surnames of the same background adhere to the same geographic locations.

Certain variants of the name Herzberger can be particularly found in the Jewish-German community, such as those living in the Jewish Metropolitan area of Rhineland in the 19th century. As this was established as one of the largest Jewish settlements in Europe, many of the descendants of the original inhabitants of the area continued to keep the same variants of the original surname.

Famous people with the name Herzberger

• Max Herzberger: German politician who served as an MEP from 1994 to 2014.
• Wolf Herzberger: German athlete who competed in five Olympics in rowing and was a five-time medalist, including one gold medal.
• Otto Herzberger: German officer who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
• Caitlyn Herzberger: American gymnast and Olympic gold medalist.
• David Herzberger: Professor and expert in the fields of political science and public health.
• Joel Herzberger: Israeli composer and conductor who has performed around the world and released several albums.
• Jakob Herzberger: German lawyer and businessman who was a managing director of Bayer AG.
• Fritz Herzberger: German film producer who worked on several popular films such as Goodbye, Cruel World and Laughing Man.
• Joanne Herzberger: American author and motivational speaker who has written on topics such as career success, self-esteem, and relationships.
• Harald Herzberger: German musician and singer who has released several solo albums and is active in the music industry in both Germany and the US.

Other surnames

Herzberg