Surname Eichhorst - Meaning and Origin

Eichhorst: What does the surname Eichhorst mean?

The last name Eichhorst is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word 'ehorde', meaning a fencing, hedge or thicket. It is also believed to be an occupational name for a person who worked as a guard, and was given to someone who kept animals in an enclosure.

The surname first appeared in records in the early 13th century in the German region of Thuringia, located in the heart of modern-day Germany. By the 16th century it had spread to other parts of German-speaking areas, such as Bavaria, and was adopted by families of nobility in Prussia.

The spelling of Eichhorst varied greatly over the centuries, from forms such as Eichorst and Eychorst to Ehorst and Eichert. This variation can be confusing when researching the different parts of the family tree.

Throughout the centuries, many families bearing the Eichhorst surname migrated to different parts of the world. These families took up various occupations from farming to trades, and some even rose to high military or political positions.

In modern times, the Eichhorst name is still common in many parts of Germany, but it is also found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries from across the globe. The Eichhorst name is a reminder of the dedication and hard work of past generations in the pursuit of a better life."

Eichhorst: Where does the name Eichhorst come from?

The surname Eichhorst is most commonly associated with German-speaking countries, especially Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries where German immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The origin of the surname is German and is believed to derive from the Middle German word ichhort, meaning “owner of an eich,” with eich meaning “oak” in Old High German. While some sources suggest it may originally have referred to someone who owned a grove of oak trees, it could also have been a sign name, given to someone who lived near an oak tree.

In modern times, Eichhorst is most prevalent in Germany, where it ranks as the 771st most common surname. It is particularly associated with the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Other countries with significant numbers include the United States, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, Eichhorst is especially common in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Despite the ubiquity of the name in German-speaking countries, it is still considered a relatively uncommon last name, which means that it has largely retained its lack of commonality worldwide.

Variations of the surname Eichhorst

The surname Eichhorst is derived from a variety of German words, including ‘eichenhort’, meaning ‘oak court’, or ‘eichenhorst’, meaning ‘oak village’. The German spelling of the surname is ‘Eichhörst’, but other spellings and variations may also exist, including Eichehorst, Eychhorst, Eyckhorst, Eykhorst, Eichurst, Eikhorst, and Aichhorst. Surnames derived from the same origin include Ikert, Ekert, Eckert, Eckard, Ecker, Ikehart, Ikehard, and Aechhardt.

In its various spellings, Eichhorst may also have been adopted by other countries and cultures, in some cases undergoing a more pronounced change in spelling. In the Netherlands, for example, the surname is sometimes spelled Ickhorst, while in Denmark it can be spelled Igstorp. Other variants include Arndt, Erdt, Ickhort, Ickerst, and Eckerts.

In the United States, the most common variations and derivatives of the surname Eichhorst are Eichert, Eicher, Ikeart, Ikehart, Eykhardt, Eckart, Eckert, Ikert, and Ikehard.

In the United Kingdom, the most common spellings for the surname Eichhorst are Eykhardt, Ikehart, Eichert, Eicher, Ikert, and Ikehard.

No matter how it is spelled, the surname Eichhorst can be traced back to a common German root, and its various spellings bear ample witness to its historic existence. Those bearing the name are descended from an ancestral lineage that can be traced back centuries in German history.

Famous people with the name Eichhorst

• Winfred Eichhorst: German World War II fighter pilot who was honored as the last of the top-scoring aces of the war.
• Thur Eichhorst: German mathematician and professor of mathematics at the University of Tübingen.
• Kathy Eichhorst: American voice actress, who has worked extensively in anime, cartoons, and video games.
• Karl-Heinz Eichhorst: German ornithologist who has conducted research into the ecology of owls and other birds of prey in the former East Germany.
• Fred Eichhorst: American inventor, businessman, and entrepreneur who invented the Frisbee disc in 1948.
• Walter Eichhorst: German Nazi official during World War II, and a close confidant of Adolf Hitler.
• Kurt Eichhorst: German pilot who flew Hawker Hurricane aircraft during WWII, and was credited with successfully shooting down 28 enemy aircraft.
• Franz Eichhorst: German zoologist who was instrumental in helping to preserve a number of animal species from extinction.
• Nikolaus Eichhorst: German classical scholar and archaeologist who excavated sites in Greece and Asia Minor for the German Archaeological Institute.
• Richard Eichhorst: German novelist and short story writer who wrote about the Wilhelmine period in Germany.

Other surnames

Eichhorn