Surname Großheider - Meaning and Origin

Großheider: What does the surname Großheider mean?

The last name Großheider (or Grossheider) is a German surname dating back to the Middle Ages. It originated as a toponym (a place name) from the Hessian region of Germany, and literally translates to "big heathland," reflecting the landscape of the area at that time.

The Großheider family migrated over time and eventually spread throughout the German-speaking world, particularly in areas of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt.

The popularity of the name Großheider is associated with the start of the industrial revolution and the rapid population growth that occurred in the German states during the 19th century. More and more Großheiders left their homes in rural areas of Germany in search of work in the growing cities, resulting in a much wider spread of the name Großheider throughout Germany and Europe.

Today, the Großheider name survives in Germany, the United States, Canada, and various countries around the world. Those with the Großheider family name can take solace in the fact that their name, and the history behind it, has been passed down through multiple generations and remains an essential part of the family tree.

Großheider: Where does the name Großheider come from?

The last name Großheider is particularly common in Germany today, especially in the northern, western and central parts of the country. It is estimated that there are roughly 2,500 individuals with the last name Großheider living in Germany currently.

Due to the mass immigration of Germans to the United States in the 1800s and 1900s, the last name Großheider can also be found in the United States. However, the number of individuals with this last name is significantly lower than those in Germany. The US Census Bureau estimates the number of individuals with the last name Großheider in the US to be around 1,500.

England and France also have a small population of Großheider's, with around 500 in each country. Immigrants from Germany to these countries happened mainly at the end of World War II, and the last name has been well established in both countries since then.

Overall, the last name Großheider is most commonly found in Germany, with descendant populations in the United States, England and France.

Variations of the surname Großheider

The surname Großheider is of German origin, and is closely related to numerous other surname variants with the same root. The prefix “Groß”, meaning “large” or “great” is commonly used in German surnames such as this one, with specific root words such as “heide”, "hader", or "häder”, meaning variously “barren land”, “enclosure; hedge”, or “bramble” respectively. Coupled together, Avotaynu theorizes that this surname is derived from a topographic occupational name that might have been given to an individual who lived near and worked the large heathland areas of Germany.

Variants of the surname Großheider include Grossheider, Großhäder, Grosshader, Grosshaider, Grosshäder, Großhöder, Grosshoeder, and Grosshöder. Less common spellings include Größheider, Größhäder, Größhader, Größhaider, Größhöder, Grösshäder, Größhoeder, and Größhöder.

In some cases the meaning of the surname might have been altered due to local dialects, notably throughout the German Empire. For instance, Großhöder may also be rendered Gröschöder, and Großhaider might also appear as Groshoider. In other cases, silent letters such as the “ß” may also be dropped entirely in some cases.

Despite its widespread local variations, the surname Großheider remains closely related to those of the same root. As such, contemporary claimants typically share the same roots and are related to one another, however distant they might be geographically. Therefore, using a number of the aforementioned variants, practitioners of genealogy can use context clues to trace the origins of ancestors with the surname Großheider and family members who share the same root.

Famous people with the name Großheider

• Angelo Großheider: Austrian-Italian racing driver and rally co-driver.
• Helmut Großheider: Austrian alpine skier who competed at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
• Lilly Großheider: German athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump.
• Mica Großheider: German television presenter, one of the moderators on the ARD morning show vor Ort.
• Robert Großheider: Austrian television presenter and news anchor.
• Franz Großheider: Austrian figure skater who won a bronze medal at the 1973 World Figure Skating Championships.
• Horst Großheider: German businessman and general manager for the German Football Association (DFB).
• Alfred Großheider: Austrian-born American soccer official, who was a Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner.
• Damien Großheider: Austrian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Liefering.
• Heidemarie Großheider: Swiss ice hockey player who played in the 2015 and 2016 IIHF Women's World Cup.
• Nathan Großheider: American football quarterback currently playing for the Highland High School football team.
• George Großheider: German footballer who currently plays for Berliner FC Dynamo.
• Andreas Großheider: Austrian physicist and Professor at the University of Innsbruck.
• Karl Großheider: German aviator who flew with the Red Baron in World War I.
• José Großheider: Brazilian judoka who competed in the men's half-middleweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Ewald Großheider: Austrian artist known for the abstract paintings and digital art.
• Johann Großheider: Austrian Olympic skier, who represented Austria in two Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1936.
• Joanna Großheider: Austrian film director and screenwriter.
• Dina Großheider: Swiss tennis player.
• Daniel Großheider: Austrian cross-country skier, member of the Austrian team for several international competitions.

Other surnames

Großheide