Hein Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Hein last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Hein last name
Meaning of the Hein last name: from Hein, a short form of Heinrich. Hein is a short form of Heinrich, the most widely used male name of the medieval German lands. It is the northern and western counterpart of the southern Heinz, and is common in the Rhineland, Hesse and Lower Saxony, as well as the Netherlands, where Hein is still a first name. In Low German folklore Freund Hein was a name for death. The poet Heinrich Heine carried a related form. Heinrich, from Germanic haim, "home", and rīc, "ruler", was borne by seven German kings named Henry in the Middle Ages, which made it very popular. Many Hein families emigrated to the United States in the 19th century, especially to Wisconsin and Iowa.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Hein name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Hein name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the Netherlands, the United States and Austria; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Hein pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Hein coat of arms for you.
Hein name FAQ
What does the Hein name mean?
From Hein, a short form of Heinrich. Common variants include Heine, Heyn, Hain.
Where does the Hein surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the Netherlands, the United States and Austria.
Is there a Hein coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Hein crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hein coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).