Surname Hanack - Meaning and Origin
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Hanack: What does the surname Hanack mean?
The last name Hanack is a Germanic surname derived from the high German word “hanah” meaning a house or home. It is generally thought that it was originally used to describe a person who was from a particular house or home. Alternatively, the name could be an occupational name for someone who worked in a large house or home.
The surname Hanack first appeared in records in the 12th century, when a monk called Haniac was recorded in Silesia. From then, the name spread through Europe, arriving in the United States in the late 19th century.
People surnamed Hanack come from a range of different backgrounds. Some are of German descent, while others have Ashkenazi Jewish or Polish origins.
The Hanack surname is not particularly common, but it has an interesting history. It is thought that the name was once used by people who worked in large houses or homes, and that, over time, the name was adopted by more people from different backgrounds. This may explain why the name is so diverse and why it is found in so many parts of the world today.
Order DNA origin analysisHanack: Where does the name Hanack come from?
The last name Hanack is a variant of the German surname Hahn, and is most commonly found among German-speaking populations. In 2020, the last name Hanack is most prevalent in Germany, with over 4,300 people registered as having the name. It can also be found in Austria, where it ranks as the 633rd most common surname, but is much rarer than in Germany. It can also be found in the U.S., but here it is much less common and ranks 16,203rd most popular surname. Hanack is a relatively unusual but also quite ancient German surname, with records of its use dating back to the 16th century. The name itself appears to be derived from the old German word "hanac," which refers either to someone who kept poultry or to those who lived near a roost for wild birds.
Variations of the surname Hanack
The surname Hanack has been spelled various ways, including Hanish, Handel, Hanna, Hanach, and Hanick. It is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Hann, which is a form of the Hebrew name John, meaning “God is gracious”. Many variants of the name have surfaced, and Hanack itself is closely related to Hanish, Handel, and Hannick. Hanish is the most common variant, and is found in England, Scotland, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world. It is derived from the Old French “Hannes”, and can be found as an occupational surname for a wool merchant (Hannes de Langmantel – wool merchant of Langmantel).
The variant Handel is found in Germany, and derived from the Old German “Handy”, an occupational name for someone who operated a mill (Handy Walterum – miller Walter). The variant Hanna is derived from the Hebrew name Chanan, meaning “he was gracious” and is the same root as the English name ‘Hannah’. Hanach is derived from the Polish word for camping or hunting lodge (hnacza). Hanick is a variant spelling of the name Hanack, derived from the Hebrew name Chanan, which is also found in other languages such as Czech.
Regardless of the variation, the origin of the surname Hanack remains very much the same – from the Hebrew name “John” meaning “God is gracious”. As a result, the various spellings of the surname all relate back to a common origin.
Famous people with the name Hanack
- Imrich Hanack: a Slovakian fire safety expert
- Oskar Hanack: a German poet and author
- Joseph Hanack: a German zoologist and entomologist
- Josef Hanack: a Czech businessman, successful in America
- Stanislav Hanack: a Czech industrialist
- Josip Hanack: a Croatian painter
- Vaclav Hanack: a Czech engineer and manager
- Lourens Hanack: an Dutch zoologist
- Halyna Hanack: a Ukrainian journalist
- Paul Hanack: an German-American actor