Surname Heindrich - Meaning and Origin

Heindrich: What does the surname Heindrich mean?

The last name Heindrich is a German surname that originated from the Middle Ages, which means it is quite old and has a long and rich history. The origin of the name is made up of two elements which are ‘Hein’ and ‘Drik’. The former is a short version of Heindrik which comes from the Old German 'Heimaterik', which means ‘the ruler of the home’. The latter is an ancient German name that means ‘mighty ruler’ or ‘leader’. It can also refer to someone who happens to be very strong and determined.

Over the centuries, this last name had various spellings but eventually it became settled as Heindrich. In its homeland Germany, this surname is primarily found in Lower Saxony and Silesia. It is also quite common among German-American families and those with Austrian ancestry.

In modern day times, the last name Heindrich carries a sense of strength, leadership, and wisdom. Although it originated centuries ago, it still maintains its relevancy. Its ancestors were people of high repute and this name continues to carry that sentiment in many families and cultures, both old and new.

Heindrich: Where does the name Heindrich come from?

Heindrich is a Germanic name derived from the given name Heinrich, meaning "home ruler". The name is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe. As the FamilySearch Historical Records database lists, the earliest recorded instance of the name Heindrich dates back to 1409 in Saxony, Germany.

The name has also been adopted in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Today, the surname is most commonly used in locations that have traditionally been settled by German-speaking immigrants, such as the United States and Canada, where German-speaking immigrants have been present since the 19th century.

In the United States, the surname Heindrich can also be found in the states of Texas and Wisconsin, according to the 1980 U.S. Census. In Canada, the name can most commonly be found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, according to the 2016 Canadian Census.

It is likely that the surname Heindrich has spread throughout the world as a result of German immigration and due to the commonality and popularity of the given name Heinrich in German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Heindrich

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Heindrich include Hendrick, Hendriksen, Hendricks, Hendrickson, Henricksen, Henrickson, Henrich, Henrichs, Henrichsen, Henricks, Henricksen, Heindick, Heindricks, Heindricksen, Heindrickson, Heindrich, Heindrick, Heindricks, Heindrickson, Hendricksen, Heinrich, Heinrichs, Heinriches, Heinrichsen, Henrichen, Henrichson, Hendrix, Hendrixson, Hendrycksen, and Hindericks.

Hendrick is derived from a combination of the words “hend”, meaning “graceful”, and “ric”, meaning “powerful”. Hendriksen is thought to be a patronymic variant of Hendrick, meaning “son of Hendrick”. Hendricks, or Hendrickse, is another version of the surname Hendrick. Hendrickson is the son of Hendricks. Henricksen and Henrickson are variants of the surname Hendrickson.

Henrich and Henrichs are alternate versions of the name Heinrich, meaning “rule of a home”. Henrichsen and Henrichson are both derivatives of the name Heinrich. Heindick is a shortened version of Hendrick. Heindricks and Heindricksen are both derivatives of the name Hendrick, while Heindrickson is the son of Heindricks.

Heinrich is the original German form of the name, while Heinrichs is an alternate spelling. Heinriches and Heinrichsen are patronymic forms of the name. Henrichen is a Dutch variant of Heinrich, and Hendrix as well as Hendrixson are common Dutch variants of the name. Hendrycksen is another Dutch variant of the name Heindrich. Hindericks is a Dutch spelling and variant of the name, as well.

Famous people with the name Heindrich

• Karl Heindrich Ulrichs (1825–95), a German lawyer and writer who was the first self-proclaimed homosexual
• Otto Heindrich (183–1969), a German aviator and airship pioneer
• Ernst Heindrich (1842–1922), a German zoologist and anatomist
• Arthur Heindrich (1880–1946), a German WWI flying ace
• Hans Heindrich (1898–1976), a German WWI soldier
• Reinhardt Heindrich (1918–2006), a German WWII Panzer commander
• Claus Heindrich (1927–2009), an Austrian ballet dancer
• Werner Heindrich (born 1929), a German Olympic swimmer
• Peter Heindrich (born 1935), a German Alpine skier 10.Ines Heindrich (born 1941), a German political scientist 11.Udo Heindrich, a German mathematician 12.Reinhard Heindrich, a German publisher 13.Heribert Heindrich, a German business executive
• Helmut Heindrich (born 1955), a German MEP 15.Katja Heindrich (born 1973), a German-Mexican photographer and model

Other surnames

Heindrichs