Surname Neidhart - Meaning and Origin

Neidhart: What does the surname Neidhart mean?

Neidhart is a German surname with historic origins. It is derived from the Old High German words "nit" or "neid", meaning envy or malice, and "harti", meaning hard or strong. Therefore, the surname is often interpreted to mean "Strong Envy" or "Hard Malice". It may have been originally given as a nickname to a person who was strongly envied or to someone with a hard, envious disposition. Over time, the nickname would have been passed down as a family name. Surnames originating from nicknames or personal characteristics are quite common in Germanic cultures. It is also common that such names often have negative connotations, as is the case with Neidhart. This surname is most commonly found in Germany and countries with significant German-speaking populations. Some notable people with this surname include Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, a professional wrestler, and his daughter Natalya Neidhart, also a professional wrestler.

Neidhart: Where does the name Neidhart come from?

The surname Neidhart is most commonly found in parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is likely that the Neidhart family originated in Germany and spread throughout Central Europe. In Germany today, the Neidhart family is most heavily concentrated in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

In Switzerland, the Neidhart surname is most prevalent in the cantons of Graubünden, Zurich, and Bern.

In Austria, the Neidhart family can be found in the states of Carinthia, Styria, and Lower Austria.

In the U.S., the Neidhart surname is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It is likely that the Neidharts in the United States descend from German immigrants who arrived in the 19th century.

Neidhart is also a popular family name in Canada and can be found in both English- and French-speaking communities. It is most prevalent in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.

Overall, the Neidhart surname is still widely spread and can be found across Europe, the US and Canada.

Variations of the surname Neidhart

Neidhart is a German surname derived from the Old High German name "Nidharz". The variants and spellings of this surname include Neidhardt, Niedhart, Niederhart, Niedhert, Nidert, Nyhart, Niederhofer, and Nyder. It is mainly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.

The surname Neidhart has numerous cognates in eastern and central Europe, such as the surnames Neidherr, Neider, Neyer, and Nidzarski. It is thought that the surname originated in Lower Saxony and Bremen in northern Germany and the Netherlands.

Neidhart family lines can be traced to the 10th century when a family named Neidhart began farming in the present-day Dutch region of Limburg. During this time, the family was recorded as owning large tracts of land in northern Germany. The family eventually spread to areas of modern day Switzerland and Austria, as well as the United States and Canada.

The Niedhardt spelling of the surname is most commonly found in the southern states of the United States, as well as in southern particular Southern Ontario in Canada. The variant spelling Niederhart is more prevalent in the mid-atlantic region of America, including Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In present times, the surname Neidhart is most commonly found in the United States, with the most concentrated populations being located in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois.

Famous people with the name Neidhart

• Bret Hart (Bret Sergeant Hart, born July 2, 1957): Former professional wrestler and Hall of Famer in the WWE Hall of Fame.
• Jim Neidhart (James Henry Neidhart, born August 2, 1955): Former professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Natalya Neidhart (Natalie Katherine Neidhart-Wilson, born May 27, 1982): Current professional wrestler signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the SmackDown brand.
• Owen Hart (Owen James Hart, May 7, 1965: May 23, 1999): Canadian-American professional wrestler who gained popularity in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
• Ross Neidhart (Ross H. Neidhart, born 1935): Professional wrestler, former National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) member, and one of the original founders of Stampede Wrestling.

Other surnames

Neidhardt