Surname Haaß - Meaning and Origin

Haaß: What does the surname Haaß mean?

The last name Haaß is an ancient German name and is derived from the Old German word haft, meaning prisoner or captive. This surname was born in the Middle Ages, when the ruling class was the landowning nobility, who maintained control of the lower classes by detention. It was used to indicate someone who had been taken captive and held against their will. Alternatively, it could have originated as a nickname for a person who was stubborn or tenacious.

The surname is still found throughout Germany, especially in the areas of Bavaria and Thuringia. It is also associated with families who have migrated to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America.

In modern times, the name is interpreted to mean “humble” or “modest” in German, but there is no consensus or evidence to support this interpretation. It is possible this meaning has evolved from the original definition over time.

Overall, the last name Haaß is believed to have Gaelic roots and likely referred to someone who was a prisoner or captive hundreds of years ago.

Haaß: Where does the name Haaß come from?

The last name Haaß is a common German surname. It is most frequently found in the northern German states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Lower Saxony. It has also been found in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

The surname is most commonly seen in the form “Haaß”, though it is sometimes also found in the variant spelling “Haass”. This spelling is most frequently encountered in North Rhine-Westphalia, especially in the former Prussian provinces of Westphalia and the Rhine Province.

The Haaß surname is associated with a large number of nobles and other families in Germany. It is believed to come from the Old German “Haas”, meaning “hare”, and was usually given to those who tended to hares and breeds. It is also sometimes seen as an adoption of the Jewish Ashkenazi name “Hass”.

The most famous bearer of the Haaß surname in Germany today is Dr. Sebastian Haaß, a professor of philosophy at the Free University of Berlin. He is the son of the German-American writer and philosopher Friedrich Haaß.

The Haaß surname is also found among diaspora communities of German descent in the United States, Canada, and other countries. In the United States, the largest concentration of people with the Haaß surname are found in the Midwest and Great Lakes states, with more scattered populations in various parts of the country.

Overall, the last name Haaß is quite common in Germany, as well as in many diaspora countries. It is most frequently associated with the upper classes, though descendants of more humble origins can be found in some families.

Variations of the surname Haaß

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Haaß are as follows:

Haas: This is the most common spelling for the surname Haaß. It is a German variant and predominantly found in the countries Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Haasz/Haaszt: These are alternative spellings of Haas, and are used mainly in Germany and Austria.

Hass: Another German variant, Hass is also commonly found in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. It is used mainly amongst Protestant communities.

Haasen: A Dutch variant of the surname Haaß, Haasen is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Hases: This variant of Haaß is mainly used by Lithuanian Jews, originating from the Latin spelling of the name.

Haus: This is another alternative form of the surname, mainly used in Germany, and is derived from the Latin name Hassia.

Hauss: This variation of the name is common in southern Germany and is of German origin.

Haussmann: This is an altered version of the surname. Originating from Germany, the name is often found in the United States, primarily amongst Jewish families.

Hausman: This variant of the name is most commonly used in the United States and Canada, and is of German origin.

Hazes: This is a Dutch variant of the surname Haaß, mainly used in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Hazey: This is a variation of the surname, and is also of Dutch origin.

Hoeß: This is another German variant of Haaß, mainly used by Catholic families.

Höß: This is a variant of the name which is mainly found in southern Germany.

Hoess: This is an American spelling of the surname, primarily used amongst Jewish families.

Famous people with the name Haaß

• Stefan Haaß: professional football player, currently playing for SV Sandhausen.
• Joachim Haaß: retired professional football player, formerly of VfB Stuttgart.
• Francis Haaß: celebrity chef and restaurateur, known for his TV appearances on HD+ and his cookbook „Das Kochbuch mit Francis Haaß“.
• Uwe Haaß: retired professional football player, formerly of Hertha BSC.
• Rolf Haaß: professional journeyman player, playing for several Bundesliga clubs such as VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Schalke 04.
• Rüdiger Haaß: former football player, most recently with EuropaV VI.
• Harald Haaß: novelist and professor of German at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
• Ulla Haaß: German actress and comedian, seen in the improv comedy show „Grand Slam".
• Dr. Jürgen Haaß: doctor and medical research specialist, known for his work in multiple sclerosis therapy.
• Ursula Haaß: politician in the SPD and former state secretary of the Federal Ministry for Women, Senior Citizens, Families and Youth in Berlin.

Other surnames

HaaßeHaaßengier