Surname Hessen - Meaning and Origin
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Hessen: What does the surname Hessen mean?
The last name Hessen is a German surname that originated from the German state of Hessen. The name "Hessen" is derived from the Germanic term Hesse, which means a person from the forest clearings or woodlands.
During the Middle Ages, "Hesse" became an official title which was given to nobles and rulers in the area. These rulers then adopted the title "Hessen" as their surname and it was passed down from generation to generation.
The surname Hessen is found mostly in Germany and Austria today but it can also be found in other countries particularly those who had strong German influences in the past such as the USA and Canada.
The Hessen surname is linked to many noble families, such as the House of Hesse, which had close ties with the royal families of Europe. This surname is still found among many people today as an indicator of their membership or connection to Germany's nobility.
In modern times, the last name Hessen can still be found in Germany and Austria, where it remains linked to those with a strong German background or lineage. It can also be seen in countries like the USA and Canada which have had a strong German religious and cultural heritage and where Hessen descendants have settled.
Order DNA origin analysisHessen: Where does the name Hessen come from?
The last name Hessen is most common today in Germany, in particular the central western region of the same name. Historically, it is known for being a grand duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, and it has since become an important cultural area of the German-speaking world.
In modern times, Hessen is a wealthy state that is home to countless ancient castles and palaces that stand in testament to its rich history. It also boasts a thriving economy, which is partially driven by its well developed industrial sector. This region is especially attractive to young professionals, who are often drawn to the major metropolitan cities that dot this relatively small area.
Hessen is also one of the most populous states in Germany, with current estimates placing its population at more than six million people.1 This inevitably leads to a high amount of migratory settlements and a strong presence of the surnames that define it. As a result, it has become a common site to find the last name Hessen concentrated in this region.
In addition to Germany, it is possible to find the surname Hessen throughout many other western European countries. Residents of the United States and Canada also bear Hessen as their last name, though it is significantly less concentrated than within its native region.
1 Statistisches Landesamt Hessen (2019). Bevölkerung. Retrieved February 9, 2021, from https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Bevoelkerung.html
Variations of the surname Hessen
The surname Hessen is of German origin. It is derived from a place name, likely derived from a Germanic word meaning “high ground”, such as a hill or mountain. As such, it has numerous variants and spellings. Examples include Hesse, Hessen, Hess, Hesser, Hesserin, Heß, Heße, Heßen, Heßer, and Heßerin. It is also spelled Hessian, which is derived from Hessia, the Latin word for Hessen.
In some cases, the variants and spellings of the surname Hessen have been adapted to a different language or region where it is found. For example, the Dutch variants are Van Hassel, Hesselink, Hesselman, Hasselaar, and Hasselman, while the French variants are Hessler and Hessomme. In Poland the spelling is Chęścik or Chęsik, and in Hungary it is Vajka or Vajka-Hess.
Other surnames that derive from the same source as Hessen include Hessel, Hesseling, Hessenauer, and Hessenstein.
In German-speaking regions, the name is often found as a personal name or first name, and sometimes as a patronymic, such as Hessmann or Hessling. The name is also found as a component of combinations such as Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Homburg, and Hessen-Pfalz.
Famous people with the name Hessen
- Prince Maurice of Hesse and by Rhine (1850–1918): He was an infantry general who fought for several European nations during the 19th century.
- Grand Duke Friedrich II of Hesse and by Rhine (1820–1888): He was the ruling Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine from 1877 to his death.
- Prince Gregory Romanov of Hesse and by Rhine (1897–1992): He was a Romanov grand duke, the paternal grandfather of the current titular Grand Duke of Russia.
- Princess Alice of Hesse and by Rhine (1843–1878): She was the mother of the future German emperor Wilhelm II. She was Princess Alice's only daughter and the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Albert.
- Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus of Hesse and by Rhine (1906–1937): He was the only son of the reigning Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig and he died in an airplane crash in 1937.
- Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine (1864–1918): She was the wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia and an aunt of Tsar Nicholas II.
- Prince Ernst Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine (1868–1937): He was the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine from 1892 to 1918.
- Prince Philipp of Hesse and by Rhine (1907–1980): He was the son of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig and his wife Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich.
- Prince Victor Emmanuel of Hesse and by Rhine (1909–1941): He was a son of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig who was killed in World War II.
- Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine (1820–1898): He was a brother of Grand Duke Ludwig IV and prime minister of the Grand Duchy of Hesse from 1862 to 1877.