Surname Honold - Meaning and Origin
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Honold: What does the surname Honold mean?
The last name Honold is of German origin and is derived from the word "honig," which means "honey." It is thought to refer to someone who lived near a place that produced honey or someone who was employed in the beekeeping business. The name Honold likely originated from the Rhineland-Palatinate region, which was heavily populated by German-speaking people.
The first recorded mention of the surname Honold occurred in the small village of Eckweiler, Germany in 1343. It is possible the family may have been living in the area since as early as the 10th century, continuing into current times. In documentation from 1763, many Honolds appear to have worked in forestry or as masons.
The surname Honold has spread to many countries, given the mass migrations of Germans throughout Europe and the Americas in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, the surname Honold can also be found in Austria, Hungary, and Poland.
Common variants of the surname Honold include Honolde, Honolt, Honalt, and Honaut. In the United States, spelling variations may include Hanhold, Hanford, Hansel, Hanaud, Honald, and Hanel.
Order DNA origin analysisHonold: Where does the name Honold come from?
The last name Honold is commonly found in the German speaking countries of Europe today. It is one of the oldest surnames that have been recorded in Germany since the 13th century. The surname is most prevalent in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, both of which are situated in the Southwest region of the country. Experienced researches have also traced the name to Austria and parts of the Swiss border region near the city of Zurich.
The name itself is believed to be a variation of the surname Hanold and other equally old German names such as Honoldt, Honnold, and Honnolder. People who bear this surname throughout Europe are not known to be related in a genealogical sense. However, those who have the same last name and live in the same geographical area are likely to have more common ancestors.
Over the centuries, the name has slowly spread throughout the European continent. As people of German descent immigrated to the US, Canada, and other parts of the world, so did their last names. Today, people with the last name Honold, and its variations, can be found dotting the maps of Europe, North America, and even Australia.
Variations of the surname Honold
The surname Honold is believed to have originated in Germany. It is most commonly seen as Honold, and could also be encountered as Honohl, Handohl, and Höhnold.
The earliest known record of this surname dates back to 1398 when one Gerhard Honold appeared in the tax records of northern Germany at the time.
Variations on the spelling of the name Honold are likely to have arisen from the various German dialects spoken throughout different regions of Germany over the centuries. The variants Handohl and Höhnold both originate from regional pronunciations of the letter ‘n’.
As the Honold family migrated further abroad, including to other European countries and the United States, variations on the spelling emerged, including Honoldy, Handol, Honolde, and Hennell.
Variations in spelling have also occurred over time due to recording errors and the difficulties of understanding handwriting and spelling in a foreign language. For example, records exist of the family name being transcribed as Henold or Hennolds.
The name Honold is also occasionally seen as an anglicized form of the Germanic Alonzo, with a similar pronunciation. Honold Alonzo can be encountered as a given name on some historical records and documents.
It is believed that a number of different families, unrelated by blood, may use the same surname due to its frequency throughout Germany and Europe.
Famous people with the name Honold
- Rainer Honold (actor and TV presenter from Germany)
- Charles Honold (professional footballer from the United States)
- Joseph Honold (artist from Austria)
- Christopher Honold (German composer and conductor)
- Cassandra Honold (actress from the United States)
- Klaus Honold (German sculptor)
- Ingeborg Honold (German-born American actress)
- Robert Honold (German politician)
- Werner Honold (German actor and film director)
- Johannes Honold (German sculptor)
- Berthold Honold (German civil engineer)
- Karl Honold (German architect and academic)
- Annemarie Honold (German-born American photographer)
- Hans Honold (German abstract painter and sculptor)
- Helmut Honold (German artist and photographer)
- Paul Honold (American football and basketball player)
- Eric Honold (professional golfer from the United States)
- Wilhelm Honold (German lawyer, politician and diplomat).