Surname Heigl - Meaning and Origin
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Revelations from My iGENEA DNA Test: Surprising Ancestral Stories of the Heigl Surname
The DNA test from iGENEA took me on a journey through my ancestry, revealing startling historical alliances, migrations, and lineages. My surname, Heigl, had a tale of its own that was narrated intriguingly by my genes.
J. Heigl
read moreHeigl: What does the surname Heigl mean?
The German surname Heigl is derived from the Middle High German word “heigel,” which means “hedge.” This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely someone who lived near a hedge or used hedges as a border in some capacity. It is also possible that the name was given to someone who lived in an area known for its hedges or worked as a gardener who specialized in hedge work.
The surname Heigl is found mainly in southern Germany including the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is not common in other areas of the world, but variations of the name Heigl still exist, such as Heigel, Heygel, and Heygle.
The Heigl surname is one part of a larger family history and helps to provide an insight into the lives of past ancestors. It is likely based in a time when the lives of the people were closely intertwined with the plants and animals around them, allowing those with the Heigl surname to reflect on their connection to nature and hedges in particular.
Order DNA origin analysisHeigl: Where does the name Heigl come from?
The last name Heigl is most commonly found in the United States and Austria. According to the most recent US census, Heigl is the 2,000th most common surname recorded in the United States, with an estimated 8,800 people with the last name in the year 2015.
As of late 2020, the most current statistics on the surname Heigl indicate that the United States has the greatest number of people with this last name, with states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas having the largest populations.
Meanwhile in Austria, it is the 238th most common surname with an estimated 4,800 people having this last name. The majority of those with Heigl as their last name can be found in the states of Niederösterreich and Oberösterreich.
Other countries around the world with notable populations of people named Heigl include Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, France, and Switzerland.
All in all, the last name Heigl is most commonly found in the United States and Austria, but with its wide geographical spread, it is also found in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Heigl
The surname Heigl is a Germanic surname with multiple variations. Common spellings and variants of the surname Heigl include Heigle, Heegel, Heegeler, Heygel, Heygle, Heygl, Heigler, Heiglar, Heiglreiter, Heigles, Heeglers, Heeglreiter and Heiglreiter. Other surnames of the same origin are Hiegl, Higel, Higle, Higl, Hiegeler, Hieglar, Hiegler, Higlereiter, and Hiegelreiter.
The roots of the Heigl surname are believed to originate from the Middle High German word 'higel', which referred to a type of pointed object, such as a hill or a peak. Over time, this word became associated with certain Germanic family names. The Heigl family likely took their name from a place of significance in their area that featured a pointed object such as a peak or hill.
The Heigl surname is highly prevalent in German-speaking countries. It is also found in the U.S., especially in the areas where early German immigrants came to settle, such as Pennsylvania. In recent years, some members of the Heigl family have achieved fame in the entertainment industry, such as actress Katherine Heigl.
Famous people with the name Heigl
- Katherine Heigl: an American actress, producer, and former fashion model, best known for her appearances in films such as The Ugly Truth, 27 Dresses, and Knocked Up.
- Brendon Heigl: a professional boxer and former US Army soldier, known for his appearances in the movie Fog of War and as a trainer on the Discovery Channel series Street Weapons.
- Joshua Heigl: an American reality television personality, best known for appearing on the series Breaking Amish.
- John R. Heigl: a German-American priest, known for his service to the Catholic Church in the US.
- Vince Heigl: an American professional golfer, known for his wins at the 2003 Colorado Open and 2004 Canadian Professional Golf Tour Championship.
- Ginny Heigl: an American actress and model, best known for her work on the series The Neighbors and movie Blood Oath.
- Steffen Heigl: a German composer, producer and musician, best known for scoring the soundtrack to the movie Der Tag.
- Simon Heigl: a Swiss theatre director and film producer, who was awarded a Swiss Film Prize for his work on the movie Soldate Jeannette.
- Christina Heigl: an American singer-songwriter, known for her work on the soundtrack to the movie Safe Haven.
- Jennifer Heigl: an American screenwriter and film producer, best known for her work on the movie My Sister's Keeper and the TV series 10 Things I Hate About You.