Surname Hummelsberger - Meaning and Origin
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Hummelsberger: What does the surname Hummelsberger mean?
The last name Hummelsberger is a German occupational, or hereditary, surname. It is derived from the Middle High German words "hummel" meaning bumble bee, and "bergere" meaning shepherd, and literally translates to ‘shepherd of the bumble bee’. It is believed to be an occupational name for a shepherd, usually in charge of a flock of bumble bee.
In early German records, the name Hummelsberger was also used to refer to a beekeeper or ‘bee herder’, as was the case with the Swiss French surname ‘Bourdonnier’. In the 16th century, any kind of German beekeeper was referred to as a Hummelsberger, and the family name became common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Today, those bearing the name Hummelsberger live mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries of northern Europe. The name continues to be associated with those keeping bees, beekeeping practices, and honey production.
The surname Hummelsberger also exists in the variants Hummellberge, Hummlederger, Hummelberger, and Hummelsberger. In some cases, other similar sounding German surnames, such as Hummelstein, surnames, may have also been adopted by some families.
Order DNA origin analysisHummelsberger: Where does the name Hummelsberger come from?
The surname Hummelsberger is most common today in Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages in Bavaria, and as such is still most common there, and in the surrounding countries of Austria, Czech Republic, and Poland, as people from Bavaria have moved into neighbouring regions in search of work.
In Germany, it is most common in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony. It's also particularly common amongst the ethnic minorities of France, Switzerland, and Slovakia, due to German settlers; as well as in Brazil, the United States, and Australia due to German immigrants.
The Hummelsberger coat of arms is believed to have originated in Bavaria in the Middle Ages and is typically composed of three upright scimitars arranged in a triangle within a shield, which is indicative of the warrior class of society the family originated from.
The contemporary, etymological meaning of the name Hummelsberger is one who is from a settlement named Hummelsberg, typically with a geographic relationship to a nearby mountain and a town that was usually founded by the Hummelsbergers. These towns still exist today, albeit without the Hummelsberger family at the helm.
Variations of the surname Hummelsberger
The Hummelsberger surname has a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Hummeldorf, Hummlesberger, Hummelburger, Hommelsberger, Homberg, Heimberg, Hommersberger, Humlberger, Hümmelsberger, Hummelspirger, Hummelbacher, Hummelsdorf, Himmelsberger, Himmelspach, and Hummelbauer.
Generally, all of these spellings derive from the German words "hummel" (meaning bumblebee) and "burg" (town or fortification). Thus, Hummelsberger, Hummeldorf, Hummlesberger, Hummelburger, Hommelsberger, and Homberg all signify a place near a bumblebee or bumblebee territory, while Himmelsberger and Himmelspach refer to a place close to the heavens.
The surnames Humlberger and Hümmelsberger are two other spellings of Hummelsberger that incorporate the German "l" or "ü" transformations, respectively. Hummelspirger and Hummelbacher are other versions of the same name that incorporate the German word "pirg" (meaning ridges or hills) and "bach" (meaning stream) into their spellings, respectively. Lastly, Hummelsdorf and Hummelbauer are other variations of the same name, incorporating the German word "dorf" (meaning village) and "bauer" (meaning farmer) into their spelling, respectively.
In conclusion, the Hummelsberger surname has many spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. These spellings generally refer to places located near bumblebee, ridges, hills, streams, villages, or farmers, as well as proximity to the heavens.
Famous people with the name Hummelsberger
- Jörg Schmid Hummelsberger: a German engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author
- Paul Hummelsberger: a German poet and author
- Felix Hummelsberger: an Austrian pilot and air conditioning specialist
- Karl Hummelsberger: a German composer and conductor
- Sigismund Hummelsberger: an Austrian conductor and music director
- Paul Hummelsberger Jr.: a German artist and book designer
- Johann Hummelsberger: an Austrian landscape painter
- Siegfried Hummelsberger: an Austrian physicist and acoustician
- Franz Hummelsberger: an Austrian doctor and chemist
- Josef Hummelsberger: a German physician and diplomat