Surname Linhart - Meaning and Origin

Linhart: What does the surname Linhart mean?

The last name Linhart is of German origin, and the name can be translated to mean “linden wood”. The English translation of Linhart roughly means “the forest of lime trees”, as ‘linden’ is the German word for the lime tree and ‘hart’ is the German word for ‘wood’ or ‘forest’. It likely originated from a geographical name associated with a place where linden trees were abundant.

Historically, the Linhart surname is often associated with Austria and Germany. In their native language, they would pronounce it as “LEEN-hart”. It is believed that the first of the Linharts originated near the border between the two countries in the early 1800s.

The name Linhart remains quite rare even in its native countries, and those who carry it typically bear the surname due to ancestry. People with this name are often described as creative, strong-willed, and independent.

In modern times, the name Linhart is primarily found in the United States and Canada, as many people with German and Austrian heritage have immigrated there over time. Those who trace their roots back to the original family of Linharts from the Alps likely take pride in their unique heritage and the meaningful origin of their surname.

Linhart: Where does the name Linhart come from?

The last name Linhart is most commonly found in Central Europe. It is a Germanic surname that likely originated in the regions of Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia in the late Middle Ages. Although the origin of the surname is uncertain, many sources suggest it is derived from two words--the personal name Linda and the Middle High German hart, meaning hard or strong.

Today, the name Linhart is most common in Austria, where approximately 1,400 people carry the name, followed by Slovenia and the United States with just over 1,000 people each. It is also present in Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, where each country has fewer than 700 people with the last name. Outside of Europe, Linhart can be found in Brazil and Canada with fewer than 200 people each.

The last name is far more prevalent in Central Europe than in the rest of the world. In European countries like Austria and Slovenia, people with the last name Linhart are part of a relatively small community that trace their roots to the same family heritage. This makes the last name a very unique and significant part of the countries’ cultural history.

Variations of the surname Linhart

The Linhart surname is of German origin, with variants spelled Linhard, Lienhart, Linnert, and Lineman. It is also a frequent Jewish surnames, where it is spelled Levine, Lewin, Levinson, Levenson, Litman, and Littman, among others.

The Linhart surname is derived from a German nickname liut, denoting a person of distinguished courage or fortitude, which was ultimately derived from the Old High German liut, “bold, brave.”

The surname may have been adopted by an early medieval legendary hero, Liutbald. It was also borne by an 11th-century Bavarian Duke, Liutpold of Bavaria.

People bearing the Linhart surname first began to be recorded in Central and Eastern Europe during the medieval period, and is now widely distributed throughout Germany, Austria, and other surrounding areas. It is also common in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other parts of Central Europe.

In the United States, the Linhart family is found in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and other states. Immigrants from Central Europe, many of whom were of Jewish faith, helped to spread Linhart as a surname to the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.

Overall, the surname Linhart or its variants is quite common across the world. It is estimated that there are well over million people bearing this surname.

Famous people with the name Linhart

• Oskar Linhart: Austrian sculptor born in 1894 whose artwork is featured in the National Gallery of Slovenia.
• Terry Linhart: American guitarist from Indiana who is best known for being part of the band “The Rapture.”
• Art Linhart: American former fourth grade teacher, basketball coach, and cross country coach who is the head coach of Dakota High School’s track and field team.
• Charles M. Linhart: American filmmaker and inventor who co-founded the company Skydiver Technology with Richard Griffith.
• Robert Linhart: French author whose works include Le Vertigo des jours and Journal Parisien.
• Matt Linhart: American jazz saxophonist who has performed with notable jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.
• Ryan P. Linhart: American professional tennis player and coach.
• Anna Linhartová: Czech actress best known for her roles in films such as The City and the Beasts, Corner fotografů and The Missing Star.
• Tom Linhart: Australian ceramicist and sculptor who studied at the National Art School in Sydney.
• Jan Linhart: Czech playwright and theatre director whose works include Fantazie, Hodina ruce and Zimní fraška.

Other surnames

LinhardLinhardt