Surname Ziegenhierd - Meaning and Origin

Ziegenhierd: What does the surname Ziegenhierd mean?

The last name Ziegenhierd is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German phrase "zigenahirte". Translated literally, it means "goat herder". This surname was likely given to members of a family who kept goats for milk, meat, and fur in the Middle Ages.

During this time, peasants made up the majority of the German population and relied heavily on their livestock to sustain them. Goats were particularly important because they are small, had fewer space requirements, and were hardy enough to survive in harsh winters. This likely made them popular among the peasant population as keeping them required less labor, land, and resources than larger livestock.

Given this practicality, it is not surprising that the surname Ziegenhierd was used by many families during the Middle Ages. It was also used as an occupational surname, as individuals who had a specific skill or profession associated with goats and goat herding tended to take on the surname. Even today, some members of this descended family proudly continue to bear this unique name.

Ziegenhierd: Where does the name Ziegenhierd come from?

The last name Ziegenhierd is most typically found in the United States today, with particular clusters around Mississippi, Texas, and Kansas. It is an Americanized version of the German surname Ziegenhirte, which translates to “goatherd.” The name suggests the family's Germanic ancestry, with the earliest record in the US population being a William Ziegenhirte who settled in Philadelphia in 1745.

The majority of living bearers can trace their origins back to this ancestor. As the US is a nation of immigrants, variations on the spelling of the name mean it appears in various guises in documents and records; the most common spellings being Ziegenhierd, Ziegenhirte, Ziegenhierdt, Ziegenheid and Zeigenhirte.

As a result of US migration patterns, the name is most commonplace today in the southern states, particularly those with a strong Germanic heritage, such as Mississippi and Kansas. However, modern technology and mass media have enabled direct descendants of William to keep in contact with one another, leading to more widespread distribution of the name across the US.

The Ziegenhierd diaspora has been further bolstered by modern technology and globalization, meaning that the last name now is now scattered around the world. This includes descendants of William Ziegenhierd, some of whom have journeyed to new continents and new countries, adapting the spelling to suit local customs.

Variations of the surname Ziegenhierd

The surname Ziegenhierd has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include: Ziegenhardt, Ziegenhert, Ziegenhard, Zieganhierd, Siegenhierd, Siegenehierd, Siegenehardt, Siegenehard, Seigenehierd, Seigenehardt, Seigenehard, Zeigenehierd, Zeigenehardt, Zeigenehard, Ziegenhierd, Ziegenhird, Ziegenehierdt, Seigenehierdt, Siegenehird, Zeigenehierdt, Ziegenehird and Seigenehird.

The meaning of the surname Ziegenhierd is "goat herd or keeper". Its earliest known origin is from Germany, where records indicate that the name dates back to the 1500s. It is believed to have originated from the Middle High German Ziege, which translates to “goat.” The Middle High German word Hird translates to “keeper, guard, protector, or watchdog".

The usage of the surname became more widespread in the 17th and 18th centuries, when a growing number of people began, by law, to use fixed names. This is when entrants to a guild or profession, for example, were required to adopt a surname that had not previously been used. The name began to spread into other parts of Europe, and variations of the name began to appear due to the influence of different languages and dialects.

Today, the surname remains in use throughout many countries in Europe, and in other countries around the world. Variations of the name are still prevalent in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and even in North America.

Famous people with the name Ziegenhierd

• Arnold Ziegenhierd, prominent attorney and civil rights advocate
• Mark Ziegenhierd, former executive director of the International AIDS Society
• Beverly Garrone Ziegenhierd, CEO of Ziegler Wealth Management
• Michael P. Ziegenhierd, Senior HR Manager for the VA Maryland Healthcare System
• Martina Ziegenhierd, CEO of the Global Consumer Goods Corporation
• Bradly Ziegenhierd, CEO of U.S. Telecommunications Solutions
• Wilson Ziegenhierd, National Security Adviser
• Dallas Ziegenhierd, 101st Airborne Commander
• Lynne Ziegenhierd, State Sex Crimes Prosecutor
• Christopher Ziegenhierd, former Senate majority leader
• Caroline Ziegenhierd, Chief of the Juvenile Court Division
• Peter Ziegenhierd, Assistant U.S. Attorney General
• Joanne Ziegenhierd, California Supreme Court Justice
• Yolanda Ziegenhierd, Battle of Midway survivor
• Steven Ziegenhierd, founding CEO of the Carlisle Group

Other surnames

Ziegenhirt