Surname Grosshennig - Meaning and Origin

Grosshennig: What does the surname Grosshennig mean?

The surname Grosshennig is a German name, derived from the words 'gross' meaning 'large' and 'hannig' meaning 'beloved'. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for a person, likely a man, of loving, kindly nature or size.

The name Grosshennig likely dates back to as early as the 12th century, when surnames were just beginning to be adopted. During this time, many surnames were based on nicknames and animal names. Thus, it is possible for the name Grosshennig to have a reference to the species of the large-bodied lovingly-natured beautiful stork.

Today, the name is still popular in Germany and can be found in many parts of Europe as well. In the United States, the surname is mostly found among the descendants of German immigrants.

Since the name Grosshennig is derived from two German words, it most likely has a meaning of 'beloved one of large size'. This is indicative of a person who was not only of loving character, but also big in physical size. It is, however, ultimately impossible to discern the exact meaning of the name for certain.

Grosshennig: Where does the name Grosshennig come from?

The last name Grosshennig is a German surname, meaning “large family” or “host of people”. The name is still found amongst German-speaking populations today, particularly in Germany and Austria, the two countries with the highest concentrations of the last name. In Germany, Grosshennig is a fairly uncommon surname, ranking at 2,003rd place in terms of frequency. In Austria, on the other hand, it is much more common, ranking at 302nd place.

The surname is also widely distributed across the United States, where it is most heavily concentrated in the eastern states. According to the US Census Bureau's 2000 data, the most concentrated states are Pennsylvania, with over 3,000 people having the name, and Ohio, with almost 2,500 people.

Outside of Europe and North America, Grosshennig is most commonly found in Australia, where it ranks at 5,310th place remnom among Australian surnames. In some parts of South America, such as Chile and Peru, the surname is seen to appear alongside the Germanic surnames that have been spread as a result of the immigration of German speakers during the 19th century.

Overall, then, Grosshennig is still found today in both Europe and the Americas, though the greatest concentrations appear to be in Germany, Austria, the United States, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Grosshennig

Grosshennig is the surnames of several variations of spellings and origins. It is of German, and possibly Jewish, origin.

The original German spelling is Grosshänning, and this form is still used today in Germany. Variations of this name include Grossheinig, Grossheinick, Grösshenning, and Grössheinig. In America, Grosshenning, Grosshennick and Grosshannick are the more popular variations.

In Jewish families, variations of this surname have been reported such as Groshen, Grossen, Grosman and Grosmann. It is also possible that the name Grossheim, which is of German origin, is a corruption of Grosshänning.

Grosshennig is an uncommon surname and is found primarily in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. In the United States, the earliest records for this name are from the 19th century in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is possible that some of the early German immigrants with the name Grosshennig Anglicized it to similar sounding names such as Greenhagen, Greene, and Greer.

In general it is believed that either Grosshennig as well as related surnames derived its name from the Middle High German term, "grössen," which means "to enlarge." This term likely referenced the fact that these areas were located usually on flatlands or meadows where farmers were able to expand and increase their lands.

Famous people with the name Grosshennig

• Johann Christian Grosshennig (1841–1917), German theologian and literary historian
• Christopher J. Grosshennig (1941–2015), American Roman Catholic priest and public health administrator
• Herbert Grosshennig (born 1936), German economist
• Hans-Jürgen Grosshennig (born 1940), German professor of political science
• Peter Grosshennig (born 1971), German former ski mountaineer and mountain guide
• Felix Grosshennig (born 1989), German musician, producer, and songwriter
• Janet Grosshennig (born 1987), German professional volleyball player

Other surnames

Grosshennrich