Surname Engelhart - Meaning and Origin

Engelhart: What does the surname Engelhart mean?

The last name Engelhart is a German or Dutch surname from a combination of two words. An ‘Engel’, meaning angel in English, and ‘hart’, meaning strong and hard. The literal translation is “strong angel”, but it could also be translated as “Noble Protector”. This suggests a trail of ancestor who were seen as loyal and admirable with a strong sense of doing what is right.

The name Engelhart is often found in parts of Germany but has spread to surrounding countries like the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Austria. It is believed to be the combination of two ancient Germanic tribes, the Engel and the Hart, whose descendants kept the name. It can also be found in North America, as many Europeans emigrated to the continent in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Engelhart is rare in Britain, although some individuals can be found who have been recorded as living there since the 16th century.

Engelhart is one of those names that has travelled widely, with family members spread across many locations. Whether it is because of wanderlust, war, or immigration, it has been passed down from person to person, site to site, for generations. Engelhart’s found in many locations and cultures may not know if they are directly related or not, but they still share the same name. It is a testament to the spread of culture, and the vast migrations of people over generations past.

Engelhart: Where does the name Engelhart come from?

The surname Engelhart is especially common today in the German-speaking areas of Europe - primarily in Germany, but also in Austria and Switzerland. It's one of the few surnames that have consistently appeared in German records since the 12th century.

The origins of the name are thought to have originated in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany; then spreading throughout the south and east, as well as to America, in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In Germany today, Engelhart is the 107th most common surname. It is most commonly found in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.

In the United States, Engelhart is much less common. Records show its first appearance in the 19th century, when people from the Rhineland-Palatinate area emigrated to America. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is the 4,443rd most common surname. States where it is most commonly found are Illinois, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Engelhart is also seen in Canada, where it is the 4,620th most common surname; and in Australia, where it is the 21,098th most common surname.

Variations of the surname Engelhart

The Engelhart surname has many variants, spellings, and other related names that all share the same origin. Common alternate spellings of Engelhart include Englehart, Englehard, Engelhardt, Englhard, Englhardt, and Enghard. Some of the most common related names include Engel, Engele, Engelen, Hegele, Hegelein, Hegel, and Egle. Originating from German and Dutch (Frisian) languages, the Engelhart surname is a habitative name, referring to someone from a place called Engelhardt, Engelhart, Ingelhart, or Ingelhardt – usually denoting a place of residence in the Germanic regions.

The modern spelling “Engelhart” is believed to originate from Germany and the Rhineland. Other countries where the Engelhart surname is common include Denmark, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

In the United States, the Engelhart name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and California. Some notable people with the Engelhart surname include Andrew J. Engelhart, who was an American soldier in World War I, composer Johann Georg Engelhart, and an author by the name of Carl Engelhart.

In Germany, the Engelhart surname is one of the more common names, with nearly 600,000 people having the surname. Similarly in The Netherlands, it is a fairly common name with records dating from the 1700s (in the Netherlands it is mainly spelled Engelhard). In South Africa, Engelhart is a surname found more so in the Cape Province, likely due to the British roses they brought to the country from Europe in the 19th century.

Famous people with the name Engelhart

• Walter Engelhart, tennis player
• Danièle Engelhart, french actress
• Kelly Engelhart, actress and writer
• Daryl Engelhart, former NHL player
• Lori Engelhart, writer and editor
• Angela Engelhart, PGA golf instructor
• Carl Engelhart, New Zealand bank clerk
• Barney Engelhart, American printmaker and artist
• Marthe Engelhart, Belgian sculptor
• Fritz Engelhart, Swiss lawyer and politician
• Arthur Engelhart, American goldsmith and jewelry designer
• Helmut Engelhart, Austrian painter
• Michael Engelhart, director and actor
• Lynn Engelhart, Swiss wheelchair curler
• Jürgen Engelhart, German racing driver
• Beat Engelhart, Swiss sculptor
• Bernd Engelhart, German producer, director, and cinematographer
• Hans-Jürgen Engelhart, German photographer
• Jos Engelhart, Dutch politician
• Mark Engelhart, American politician

Other surnames

EngelhardEngelhardt