Surname Hartman - Meaning and Origin

Newfound Heritage: How iGENEA's DNA Test Reframed My Understanding of My Hartman Ancestors

Taking an iGENEA DNA test, I discovered my ancestors named Hartman have connections to surprising cultures and historical events. This journey revealed Scandinavian origins and Jewish heritage, rebuffing my conventional understanding and reshaping my self-perception.

Z. Hartman

Hartman: What does the surname Hartman mean?

The surname Hartman is predominantly of German origin and may be derived from the Germanic personal name Hardman, which is composed of two elements: "hard," meaning "brave, hardy, strong" and "man," indicating "man." This would give the name the overall connotation of a strong, brave man. The name was often given to someone who had performed some form of brave or hardy act. Over time, regional variations formed, and the name is now found in several forms throughout Northern Europe. Note that the root words are descriptive rather than occupational or locational, hence it's not necessarily associated with a specific job or place. As with any surname, individual families may have their unique interpretations or stories attached to their name.

Hartman: Where does the name Hartman come from?

The surname Hartman has Germanic origins, deriving from the personal name Hartmann, which is composed of two elements: "hard" meaning 'brave', 'hardy' or 'strong', and "man" meaning 'man'. Therefore, Hartman roughly translates to "strong man" or "brave man". The name was often given to boys in the Middle Ages, signifying strength and masculinity. In later years, it evolved into a patronymic surname, handed down from generation to generation.

Currently, Hartman is a fairly common surname in the United States, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. Although it is a name of Germanic origin, its occurrence is not confined to Germany or the German-speaking nations alone. It is found across many European countries, in different forms and variations, owing to the widespread migration and movement of people over the centuries. Whether spelled as Hartman, Hartmann, or in another variant, the name carries a sense of its compelling etymological roots, echoing the bravery and strength of its medieval bearers. However, the distribution of the name is higher in regions with a substantial German-speaking population, such as Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.

Variations of the surname Hartman

The surname Hartman is of German and Jewish origin and means strong man or brave. It is derived from a combination of two Middle High German words: "hart" (hard, strong) or "hertz" (heart) and "man" (man).

Its variants and spelling alterations can include: Hartmann, Haertman, Härtman, Haartman, Hartemann, Hardman. These variations might change based on the country. For instance, in the Netherlands, it can be spelled as Hartman or Hartmann, and in Sweden, as Härtman or Hjertman.

In the Jewish context, the name may be an Anglicized form of the Yiddish personal name "Herschman" because Hersch is the Yiddish word for "heart."

Surnames of similar origin, where the root words have the same meaning, include the German surnames Starkman (strong man) and Wehrmann (defend man). Another related surname is Hart, which is derived from the same root "hart" or "hertz."

Finally, different cultures may give rise to near equivalents, as in the English surname Hardy or the German surname Kräftig, though these are not direct variants of Hartman. In the end, there are several variants and surnames of the same origin for Hartman, reflecting its place in multiple culture.

Famous people with the name Hartman

• Phil Hartman: A Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his roles on Saturday Night Live and sitcoms like NewsRadio and The Simpsons.
• Lisa Hartman: An American actress and singer known for her role in the TV series Knots Landing.
• Mike Hartman: A retired American professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL.
• Dan Hartman: An American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, known for hits like "I Can Dream About You".
• Elizabeth Hartman: An American actress best remembered for her debut role in the film "A Patch of Blue".
• Butch Hartman: An American animator, known for creating cartoons like The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom.
• David Hartman: A former American actor and journalist, best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America.
• John Hartman: An American drummer who was a co-founding member of the Doobie Brothers rock band.
• Sid Hartman: An American sports journalist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the WCCO 830 AM radio station.
• Mary Hartman: An American actress known for her role in the fictional soap opera, "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman".
• Grant Hart: An American musician best known as the drummer and co-songwriter for the alternative rock and hardcore punk band Hüsker Dü.

Other surnames

HartmannHartmannsHartmansHartmundHartmutHartmuth