Surname Hor - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hor: What does the surname Hor mean?
The origin of the surname Hor is uncertain, but it is believed to have either Hebrew or German origins. In Hebrew, the name is associated with the root word “chor” which means “free” or “liberty.” As such, it likely comes from the Hebrew phrase “achor shein,” which translates to “freedom from sin.”
In German, the name may be derived from the Old High German word “hirso,” which means “brave” or “bold.” This could indicate that the people who carried the name were seen as brave or courageous. The word is also used to describe a type of horse, indicating that the original ancestors of Hor may have hailed from a family of horse-breeders.
In England, the name is said to have been introduced by the Normans in the 11th century, and it appears as “de Hor” in some historical documents. Although the exact origin of the surname is uncertain, its meaning is clear: brave, free, and liberty-loving. It is also possible that the name was adopted by a young nobleman, since the spelling “Hor” of the word “Cor” was popular in the 15th century. Regardless of its origin, the surname Hor is a powerful testament to the courage and freedom of the people who carried it throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisHor: Where does the name Hor come from?
The last name Hor is most often found in the countries of Laos and Cambodia, as well as Thailand, where members of the Lao ethnic group are present. In Laos, it is among the ten most common surnames, making it one of the country’s most widely found last names. In Thailand, Hor is especially common in the north and northeast of the country, where the Lao ethnic minority forms the greatest concentration.
The last name is thought to have been used primarily by Lao immigrants, although its etymology remains unclear. Its meaning may have derived from the Chinese characters 賀, meaning joy or congratulations, or 好, meaning “good”, and variants of either of these characters still appear as part of the surname today.
Hor is becoming increasingly popular in other countries including the United States, Australia, and Canada, often among those with Laotian origins or who are married to a Lao person. In the United States, it is famous among the Hmong-American community due to its analogous pronunciation to that of "Hmong".
As the global Lao diaspora grows, so too does the use of the last name Hor. As this trend increases, so too will its presence across the world.
Variations of the surname Hor
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hor include: Hore, Hoore, Hoar, Horr and Horrocks. These variations are likely derived from the Middle English word "hore," which means "hoarse." This word could have been used to refer to people who had a deep and raspy voice.
The surname Hor is primarily found in England, and was likely derived from parts of Hertfordshire. It is most common in Scotland and Ireland. It can also be found in the United States, due to immigration from the British Isles during the 19th century.
The spelling of the surname Hor can also be found in various forms from different language backgrounds, such as the following:
In German it can be written as "Horr," "Höhr," "Hoor" and "Hoerer";
in Dutch it can be written as "Hoore," "Hooreman" and "Hooren";
in Spanish it can be written as "Horre," "Horrego" and "Hoara;"
in Italian it can be written as "Ora," "Oro" and "Oria;"
in French it can be written as "Haur," "Haure" and "Haurt."
The surname Hor is not associated with any particular type of occupation. However, in some instances, individuals with this surname may have been involved in farming and horse-rearing.
Overall, the surname Hor is a great example of the many variations on a single surname, due to regional and language differences. Variants of the Hor surname exist in many countries, and have been adapted to fit different cultural and linguistics backgrounds.
Famous people with the name Hor
- Jerry Hor: Taiwanese singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and actor.
- Jorrit van Hor: Dutch professional footballer for Roda JC Kerkrade, who currently plays in the Dutch Eredivisie.
- August Johannes Hor: Estonian organist, choral conductor, composer and organ builder.
- Jan Hor: former volleyball player from the Czech Republic.
- Freddie Hor: member of the British royal family.
- Frank Hor: former football defender from the United States.
- Jens Nicolai Hor: Norwegian politician of the Centre Party who was the minister of government administration and reform in the Solberg's Cabinet from 2018 to 2020.
- Captain Nat Hor: Australian soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War.
- Troels Hor: Danish footballer who currently plays for Viborg Fods as a defensive midfielder.
- Kristyna Hor: professional downhill mountain biker from Czech Republic.