Surname Glatthaar - Meaning and Origin

Glatthaar: What does the surname Glatthaar mean?

The last name Glatthaar is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words "gelt" and "haer" meaning "costly hair". This type of surname was given to individuals who had particularly expensive hair, likely referring to people who had the means to access high quality grooming tools or accessories like expensive hair care products. In some cases, it could also suggest that the person was very particular about their hair grooming.

Glatthaar is also a variation of the less common last name Glaethaere which has been found in records in Middle High German, Middle Low German, and Old High German. It is sometimes spelled as Glathaer, Glattheer, Glaethaer, Glaethhaer, Glaethhaar, Glaethhaer, Glaethheer, Glaethher, Glatheer, and Glatthar, among other variations.

The surname Glatthaar is still found in Germany today, although it is rare. It has spread to other countries, mainly through emigration, including Austria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United States. It is also found in descendants of German immigrants in Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Glatthaar: Where does the name Glatthaar come from?

The last name Glatthaar is common today primarily in Germany, as well as in some other German-speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. It has been used as a surname since the Middle Ages. The name is likely derived from the German word “glatte,” which means “smooth” or “polished,” as well as the word “haar,” which means “hair” or “mane.” Therefore, it is likely that the surname was originally given to someone with a particularly smooth and glossy head of hair that jutted outward and distinguished them from others.

The Glatthaar surname is not especially common in the United States today, as it was barely present in America at the time of the first censuses in the late 1700s. As Germany was the only major source of German immigrants in the late 19th century and had a high rate of return migration, it is likely that the Glatthaar surname is still mainly confined to Germany and the few German-speaking areas that were predominant sources of emigration from Germany during that period. In addition, Glatthaar families may have anglicized their name to something like Glatter, Glather, or Glover, thus making it less common in more recent censuses.

Variations of the surname Glatthaar

The surname Glatthaar is derived from German, indicating one who has a flat head. This surname has a few variants and spellings, including Glatthaer, Gladow, Glathar, Glatzer, and Glatzner.

Gladow is the most common spelling of the surname; the Gladow spelling of Glatthaar is thought to have its roots in East Prussia. It is believed that this variant of the name may have originated in the small village of Gladow and been subsequently adopted as the family name. Later, some people may have changed the spelling to Glatthaar.

Glatthaer, on the other hand, is derived from Lower Saxony, and is the most common form of the name in Germany. This spelling has also been seen in the United States, where it appears to have been adopted by some of the Glatthaar family members who emigrated in the 19th century.

Glathar is an archaic spelling, first seen in Austria and likely derived from the Glatthaer spelling. Glatzer is derived from the High German word ‘Glatzen’, meaning ‘bald’ or ‘flat head’, and is found mainly in Austria. Glatzner is a derivative of Glatzer, and is another variant found mainly in Austria.

In conclusion, the Glatthaar surname has multiple spellings and variations, all of which may have slightly different origins. Some variants, such as Gladow and Glatthaer, may have developed from the original spelling, while others may have a more specific local origin.

Famous people with the name Glatthaar

• Joseph Glatthaar: an American historian and professor of history at the University of North Carolina, specializing in the American Civil War and the US Army in the 19th century.
• Arthur Glatthaar: a former German professional footballer who played for DFB-Pokal winners Kickers Offenbach, and represented both East and West Germany.
• Stuart Glatthaar: an American actor, best known for playing supporting roles in feature films including Backdraft, Cliffhanger, and Boogie Nights.
• Jadin Glatthaar: an American former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Atlanta Braves, Boston Braves, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Athletics.
• Joachim Glatthaar: a German film director, screenwriter, and scriptwriter, best known for delivering hit films in the 1930s, such as Grimms Märchen von lüstigen Frauen and Westfront 1918.
• Ingrid Glatthaar: an Austrian former figure skater who won the AustrianFigure Skating Championships four times.
• Helmuth Glatthaar: a German football manager and former player who managed SV Wehen-Wiesenbad, SV Wehen Wiesbaden, and SV Wiesbaden.
• Shari Glatthaar: an American rodeo bronc rider who has won several championships including being the 1996 World Champion, the 2009 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s World Champion, and the 2010 All-Around World Champion.
• Philip Glatthaar: a German former traditional handball player who won architecture awards such as the German Design Prize and the International Architecture Award.
• Frank Glatthaar: a German former traditional handball player and industrialist who won silver at the 1987 World Handball Championships while playing for the East German national team.

Other surnames

Glatthar