Surname Hainaut - Meaning and Origin
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Hainaut: What does the surname Hainaut mean?
The last name Hainaut is derived from the French province of Hainaut, which is located in the Walloon region of Belgium. Historically, Hainaut was part of the County of Hainaut. The name is believed to be derived from the old Germanic "hagena", meaning "enclosure" or "enclosed courtyard".
The Hainaut region is known for its beautiful rolling hills and picturesque villages, and for the 16th century "Croix du Waes". The flag of the county, the "Gueule du Lion", was adopted in the 11th Century and is still used today. The region is also known for its cheese-making and beer brewing.
The original Hainaut family were Belgian-Flemish nobility. The family have had many different branches, with members occupying various positions of authority in the local and government administration, such as mayors, bailiffs and members of the judiciary.
The last name of Hainaut is a testament to the rich culture, history and landscapes of the region. It is reflective of the strong impact that the original Hainaut family had and continue to have on Belgian-Flemish society.
Order DNA origin analysisHainaut: Where does the name Hainaut come from?
The surname Hainaut is commonly found in parts of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is of French origin and can be traced back to the region of Hainault in Belgium and ancient Bavay in France. An area of Artois, it was first documented in its Latin form as 'pagus Nannetae' or 'pagus Hanonensae' in the 11th century.
In Belgium, Hainaut Province is the name of one of the original provinces in the Flemish Region, and is also the most populous one. This is the area which is most likely to have people with the surname Hainaut.
In France, the Hainaut surname is most commonly found in the regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardy and Paris, as it was one of the more prominent families in these parts of the country. It spread to the south, particularly to Aude and Aveyron, though, as well.
The Netherlands also has a considerable amount of people with the Hainaut surname, particularly in Limburg and Utrecht. It has been suggested that some of the emigrants from France who moved to the Dutch area of Limburg in the 16th and 17th centuries may have taken the surname with them.
In Germany and Luxembourg, the surname may have been adopted by some families who emigrated from the other countries.
Overall, the surname Hainaut is probably most commonly found in the regions which it originated from, namely in Flanders, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardy and Paris; the Netherlands; and Germany and Luxembourg.
Variations of the surname Hainaut
The surname Hainaut is a French and Flemish name derived from the region of Hainaut, located in present-day Belgium and France. The original form of the name is Hainault, which was once a French province.
In French, the variants and spellings of the surname Hainaut are: Haingault, Haingaut, Haynault, Haynaud, Haillant and Hailland.
In Flemish, the variants and spellings are: Henaut, Henault, Henau, Henoux and Haenaut.
The Flemish spelling of Hainaut is also seen in some of the surnames derived from it, such as Henaut, Henault, Henau, Henux, and Haenaut.
In English, the surname is spelled Hainault.
In Portuguese, the surname is spelled Hainau.
In Spanish, the surname is spelled Hainaut.
In German, the surname is spelled Henaut.
In Dutch, the surname is spelled Henaut.
In Italian, the surname is spelled Haenaut.
In Danish, the surname is spelled Hainot.
Common surnames derived from Hainaut include Hainault, Henault, Hainau, Henggen, Henoux, Haenaut, Henaut, Hainot, Hainau, Haynaut, Haynaud, Haillant and Hailland.
Famous people with the name Hainaut
- Margaret of Hainaut (1202-1280), Queen consort of France
- Sander Hainaut (born 1985), Belgian football player
- Pascal Hainaut (born 1966), French politician
- Louis II of Hainaut (1255-1322), Count of Hainaut and Holland
- Matthieu de Hainaut (1490-1568), Prince-Bishop of Liege
- Adrian of Hainaut (1517-1586), last abbot of the Abbey of Corvey
- Joanna of Hainaut (1401-1441), Countess of Hennegau and Holland
- Jan of Hainaut (1402-1475), Bishop of Utrecht
- Henry I of Hainaut (1315-1333), Count of Hainaut, Holland, and Seeland
- Guy of Hainaut (fl. 1240s), Templar knight and lord of Chateau Gaillard