Surname Pohlhans - Meaning and Origin
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Pohlhans: What does the surname Pohlhans mean?
The last name Pohlhans is a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word pohl, meaning “peasant”, and hans, meaning “John”. Essentially, the word combines two common surnames of that region and time to indicate a person of peasant background and “John” as their given name. It is likely that those bearing this name are descendants from the rural peasantry of this area, who likely were farmers and worked the land.
The earliest recorded mention of the Pohlhans surname is from a series of documents dating back to 1623, where a contract was made between two peasants in Thuringia, Germany, both of whom carried the surname. It is possible that around this time, this particular area of Germany saw an increase in land numbers owned by these peasant families who legally held and controlled it.
The Pohlhans surname can still be found in Germany as well as other countries around the world. This is most likely due to mass migrations that have taken place over the centuries, with descendants of this surname able to trace their roots to the Middle Ages. Even now, hundreds of years later, the surname Pohlhans reflects the proud heritage of hardworking families from rural Germany, who worked and farmed the land and left their mark in history.
Order DNA origin analysisPohlhans: Where does the name Pohlhans come from?
Pohlhans is a German surname that is fairly common today, especially in Germany and the surrounding countries in the German-speaking world. The name is derived from the German Pohlhans, which means "farmer". The surname is relatively widespread in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Alsace. It is also present in parts of Eastern Europe, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The earliest record of the Pohlhans surname appears in the late 18th century, in the city of Bielefeld, Germany. The name is believed to have been first used by farmers, and is likely derived from the German word for a farmer, Pohle (or Polle). As the name spread across the region, variants such as Pohlans, Pohlhausen, Pohlhans and Pohlmann also began to appear.
Today, there are roughly 15,000 people with the Pohlhans surname in Germany alone. It is also present in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, France and England -- albeit in much smaller numbers. As more immigration occurs, the Pohlhans surname is likely to become even more widespread.
Variations of the surname Pohlhans
Pohlhans is a German surname. It is a variation of the German surname "Pohl", which means "a peasant, or someone of humble origin". Variations of the name Pohlhans include Pohlenz, Poleenz, Poelenz, Poelenz, Poolehans, Polehans, Poelhans, and Poelhansen. Spellings can vary considerably, such as Poelenze, Poleenze, Poelenz and Poolhz.
Surnames with the same origin as Pohlhans include Pohle, Pole, Poel, Poleh, Poelh, and Poelhansen. Pohlenz is derived from the first syllable of the German surname "Pohlhans" and is a variation of this name. Pohlenz, Poleenz, Poelenz, and Poelenz all share the same root, implying a connection back to the German name "Pohl" and "hans".
Among other variations, Poolehans is a hybrid name combining elements of both the German Pohlhans and the Dutch Poolehans. It can be seen in the name of the Swedish Pope of the city of Essen, Martinus Poolehans (d. 1795).
There is also a related Swedish surname, Pohlhanse, derived from "Pohlhans". Similarly, the Norwegian surname Polehans is derived from "Pohlhans". A similar name is the Finnish-Polish name Paleniecki, derived from the Polish "Palec" and the Finnish "Veli".
In conclusion, the surname Pohlhans has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variations such as Poolehans, Pohlenz, Poleenz, and Poelenz share the same root, while surnames such as Pohle, Pole, Poel, Poleh, Poelh, and Poelhansen all share a connection to the original surname. The name also has related versions in Swedish (Pohlhanse), Norwegian (Polehans), and Finnish-Polish (Paleniecki).
Famous people with the name Pohlhans
- Franziska Pohlhans, a German opera soprano
- Hans Pohlhans, a German aircraft engineer
- Wilhelm Pohlhans, a German sculptor
- Karl Pohlhans, a German painter
- Richard Pohlhans, a German doctor and anthropologist
- Emil Pohlhans, a German film director
- Stephan Pohlhans, a German physicist
- Friedrich Pohlhans, a German architect
- Heinrich Pohlhans, a German philosopher
- August Pohlhans, a German politician