Surname Hunder - Meaning and Origin
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Hunder: What does the surname Hunder mean?
The surname Hunder is of German origin. This is a relatively uncommon last name, and is likely either derived from a personal name or a place name or topographical feature. It is thought that it could come from the German word 'hund' meaning 'dog', although it is unknown why it would have been adopted as a surname.
In some instances, the surname could be a diminutive form of the place-name Hunsdorf (meaning 'huntsman's settlement'), which is found in Germany. Alternatively, it could be derived from the German verb 'verbunden', meaning 'bonded together', or 'haunen', meaning 'to hunt'.
The last name may have originally referred to a person who was a hunter or a breeder of dogs, or it may refer to a settlement or feature in the landscape which was associated with hunting. Over time, the last name became fixed in certain families, and came to be used as a family name as such.
It is still in use in its native Germany, and can also be found in other countries including the US and Canada. Today, the last name Hunder is associated with people who are hard working, determined, and independent. They are also often seen as warm, empathetic, and generous.
Order DNA origin analysisHunder: Where does the name Hunder come from?
The surname Hunder is a fairly uncommon name, found primarily in areas of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the surname is more popular in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In Austria, it is most popular in the regions of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Vienna. In Switzerland, it is particularly common in Geneva, Ticino, and Valais. In recent years, some individuals with the surname Hunder have also emigrated to the United States and other parts of the world, making it a bit more common in countries like France, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
In contemporary Germany, the name Hunder has variably been spelled as Hundert, Huonder, Hund, and Hundt, among other alternative spellings. When taken together, these variants make up the 83rd most popular last name in Germany. According to the 2000 German phonebook, there were 8,768 people with the surname Hunder; 6,144 of them lived in Baden-Württemberg and 1,515 lived in Bavaria.
In Austria, the surname was the 388th most popular surname in 2015, with approximately 4,000 people registered by the Austrian telephone directory under this name. In Switzerland, the surname was the 6,336th most popular in 2007, with only 330 individuals registered with the same name. As of recent, it is estimated that the surname is held by approximately 20,000 people worldwide.
Variations of the surname Hunder
The surname Hunder is of German origin and is derived from a Middle High German noun meaning “honey” or “sweetheart”. It was likely originally given as a nickname to someone with a sweet disposition or who had a sweetheart.
Variants of the surname Hunder include: Hunatar, Hunderer, Hundert, Hundorff, Hundt, Hundte, Hundtorf, and Hundtorff. Spellings can also vary depending on the region and time period. For example, in some areas the ‘t’ is dropped and the spelling becomes ‘Hunder’, while in other regions the ‘d’ becomes a ‘g’ and it is spelled as ‘Hunter’.
The surname can also be found spelled with umlauts (diereses) such as ‘Hünder’ and ‘Hündtorf’. Other spellings and variations for the surname include Hunnt, Hund, Hundere, Hunther, and Hundhorf.
Surnames with similar origins to the surname Hunder include Huber, Hunziker, Hutter, Huonder, and Hünter. All of these surnames have the same German roots and can be traced back to the same Middle High German noun for “honey” or “sweetheart”.
Despite some minor spelling variations and surnames with similar roots, the surname Hunder is still relatively uncommon. This is likely due to its limited use within Germany and its relatively low frequency in other countries.
Famous people with the name Hunder
- Reid Hunder: an Australian surfing champion and former world surfing champion, best known for his barrel riding and big wave riding ability.
- Hege Hunder: a Norwegian singer and songwriter, known for her melodic pop music.
- Kurt Hunder: a Norwegian jazz musician, composer and producer.
- Jean-Francois Hunder: a French painter and sculptor, best known for his symbolist works.
- Maja Hunder: a Swedish actress, director and producer.
- Tanit Hunder: an Argentinian fashion designer and professional photographer.
- Betsan Hunder: a Welsh dramatist, writer and poet.
- Jørn Hunder: a Norwegian poet, author and playwright.
- Petra Hunder: a Swedish illustrator and artist.
- Kristin Hunder: a Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.