Surname Grosshans - Meaning and Origin
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Grosshans: What does the surname Grosshans mean?
Grosshans is a German surname derived from the German words "Gross" which means "big or great" and "Hans" which is a common Germanic given name, taken from the Hebrew name Johannes meaning "God is gracious".
The Grosshans surname is typically found in the states of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It may also be found in the United States, particularly in areas where German immigrants have settled.
In Germany, the Grosshans surname is associated with various places, such as Grosshansdorf in Schleswig-Holstein, a town east of Hamburg, and Groß Hanshof, a village in the Palatinate of Germany.
The Grosshans family is believed to have descended from the House of Hanover, a German family which held the throne of Great Britain from 1714 to 1901. In North America, they became known as the House of Hanover-Grosshans, due to the marriage of Robert Grosshans to Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.
The Grosshans military history dates back to at least the 16th century, when a member of the family took part in the German Peasants’ War of 1525. In more recent years, numerous members of the family have served in various branches of the German military, including the Wehrmacht during both world wars, and the Cold War military of the West German Bundeswehr.
The Grosshans surname is an honorable one, holding centuries of history from the Old World to the New. Its meaning as “great” and “gracious” is a testament to the family’s many acts of service and bravery throughout the years.
Order DNA origin analysisGrosshans: Where does the name Grosshans come from?
The last name Grosshans is most commonly found in Europe, with the highest concentrations of the name being in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and France.
In Germany, as of 2020, there were roughly 18,000 people with the last name Grosshans. The highest concentration of Grosshans in the country is in the north-western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by the neighbouring states of Hesse and Bavaria.
In Switzerland, there are just over 2,800 people with the last name Grosshans. Most of those people live in the more densely populated regions in and around the cities of Zurich, Bern, and Basel.
In Austria, Grosshans is the 107th most common last name, with an estimated 1,200 people having the name, mostly living in the capital city of Vienna and its outskirts.
In France, as of 2019, there were around 750 people with the last name Grosshans living mainly in the eastern and northern regions of the country, with the highest concentration being in the Lille region of the Nord department.
Grosshans is also a common last name in countries such as Canada, the United States, Brazil, and Australia, but these countries have much lower concentrations of the name than those in Europe.
Variations of the surname Grosshans
The surname Grosshans is a common German surname and is derived from the Middle High German words ‘groot’ and ‘hans’ which mean ‘great’ and ‘John’ respectively. Historically, the surname was mainly found in the southern region of Germany and the modern spelling may also have been influenced by the lands in which it originated.
Variants of the Grosshans surname include Grosshand, Grosshandt, Grosshanz, Gröshanz, Groshanz, Groshausen, Gröhsans, Groshaus, Graeshans, Grohs, Groshos and Gröshans.
Variants with a slightly different spelling that closely resemble the Grosshans surname include Grosshanss, Grosshanssen, Grosshauns, Groshacz, Groshaub and Grosshwenz.
Spellings taken from other countries, primarily the United States may vary such as with Grosshanssen to Gresshausen, Greehausen, and the more modern version Grisham.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Grosshans include Groz, Grosz, Grohse, Grose, Grof, Gruf and Graf.
In summary, the variants, spellings, and other surnames derived from Grosshans can be quite varied. The surname has a long history, and its changes and mutations over time reflect this.
Famous people with the name Grosshans
- David Grosshans: a German actor best known for his lead roles in the films Zattoo and Formula One: Veg News.
- Todd Grosshans: an American soccer coach and former player.
- William Grosshans: a German Physicist, notable for his research into the properties of neutron stars.
- Peter Grosshans: an American college basketball coach.
- Eric Grosshans: an American bureaucrat and diplomat who currently serves as the Ambassador of the United States to Mexico
- Mike Grosshans: an American professional basketball player with the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association.
- Albert Grosshans: a German Antarctic researcher and sea-ice specialist.
- Elizabeth Grosshans: an American Orthopaedic Surgeon.
- Stephen Grosshans: a German modern pentathlete, competing from 2010 onwards
- Emma Grosshans: an American Track and Field athlete.