Surname Heart - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Heart: What does the surname Heart mean?
The last name Heart is of English origin and is believed to have been derived from the Middle English term "hert" which means "heart". It was most likely used as a nickname in medieval times for a generous or kindly person, symbolizing someone with a big or kind heart. It can also be an anglicized version of the German surname "Hertz" or the Dutch surname "Hart", both of which also mean "heart". Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - either by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, or even physical characteristics. While the surname Heart has many potential meanings and origins, without a detailed family history, it’s difficult to identify the exact meaning, as the context and family history play important roles in understanding the true meaning behind any surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHeart: Where does the name Heart come from?
The surname Heart is of English and Irish origin, deriving from two different surnames, 'Hart' and 'MacArt'. In Old English, 'Hart' signifies a stag or male deer, often indicating someone who was swift or cunning. On the other hand, 'MacArt', in Irish Gaelic, meant 'son of Art'. Art was a popular personal name in ancient Ireland that signified a 'bear' or 'hero'. Over time, due to regional dialects and pronunciations, both surnames were altered and assimilated into 'Heart'.
People with the surname Heart migrated to America and other English colonies over centuries. Today, the surname is found distributed in the United States, England, Canada, and Australia. However, it may not be considered very common anywhere. The different spelling variations such as Hart, Harte, and Hardt are much more prevalent. It's important to remember that the frequency and distribution of a surname can change significantly within a few generations due to immigration, population growth, cultural changes, and other factors.
Variations of the surname Heart
The surname Heart may have various spellings and variants which include Hart, Harte, Haart, Hearte, Hearty, and Hartt. These alternative spellings could have emerged due to regional pronunciations and translations over time. Additionally, spelling variations like Hearst, Hert, or Hurt may also be related.
Moreover, there are cases where the origin of the surname has influenced its spelling. The surname Heart is of English origin, but it can also have German, Irish, or Jewish derivations. The German variant might be 'Hertz', in Irish it could be 'O'hAirt' and in Ashkenazi Jewish it might be 'Herz'. Though these are different names, the translations relate to the word heart or deer, which is the original meaning of the surname Heart.
Also, Heart may have been derived from occupational or locational surnames. For instance, it could have originated from someone who was a stag or a swift runner, a reference to the animal 'hart'. On the other hand, it might relate to a family's geographic location, such as a place where harts were common.
It becomes important to research specific family histories and genealogy to understand the most accurate derivation and variants of the surname.
Famous people with the name Heart
- Bret Hart: A retired professional wrestler, writer, and actor from Canada. He is a member of the Hart wrestling family and a second-generation wrestler.
- Owen Hart: A late professional wrestler, best remembered for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (today's WWE). He was the younger brother of Bret Hart.
- Jillian Heart: An Abilene, Texas native; she is a romance author who has written more than fifty novels.
- Hartley Sawyer: Known professionally as Hart, he is an American actor, producer and writer.
- Bruce Hart: Another member of the Hart wrestling family, Bruce is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, promoter, booker, trainer and school teacher.
- Jimmy Hart: An American retired professional wrestling manager, also known as "The Mouth of the South".
- Natalya Neidhart: A professional wrestler performing in WWE under the ring name Natalya, who's a member of the Hart wrestling family through her mother. Please note that some of these people do not have "Heart" per se as their surname, but "Hart". The 'Heart' surname is less common especially in pop culture and fame.