Surname Heise - Meaning and Origin
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The Surprising Stories Within My DNA: A Journey into my Heise Family Heritage and Identity
From tracing my lineage to the Vikings to unraveling connections with Danish and Swedish cultures, my iGENEA DNA test results have spun a fascinating narrative around the surname Heise. The profound insights from the test have not only influenced how I perceive my surname but also reshaped our collective family identity.
B. Heise
read moreHeise: What does the surname Heise mean?
The last name Heise is a German surname that was derived from the Middle High German word "huose," which means "house." The name Heise is most commonly used in northwestern Germany in the regions of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. The Heise family can be divided into two distinct branches: one based in Lower Saxony and the other in Schleswig-Holstein.
The earliest known origin of the Heise family name is from the last quarter of the 14th century in Germany, when it first appeared in the village of Grossenwörden in the region of Schleswig-Holstein. This branch of the family may have originally been descended from thesovrital line of Claus Heise, who died in 1568. The other branch of the family, from Lower Saxony, traces its origin to the 1450s.
The Heises have made a number of notable contributions to the world, ranging from the fields of science and medicine to engineering and business. Notable members of the Heise family include German-British physicist and Nobel laureate Otto H heise, Hindi director Subhash Heise, former West German prime minister Hans Heisen, and the German businessman Joachim Heise.
Today the Heise family name is still seen in the northwest regions of Germany, but now also spans around the world due to diaspora from war and immigration.
The name Heise is an esteemed part of this family’s rich history that stands the test of time.
Order DNA origin analysisHeise: Where does the name Heise come from?
The last name Heise is most common today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. According to the German language phonebook Das Örtliche, over 13,000 people with the last name Heise live in Germany. There is also a high concentration of the last name Heise in Denmark, with over 4,000 people bearing it. Smaller populations of the last name Heise can also be found in the United States, notably in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and North and South Dakota. Heise likely has its origins in the German surname de Heise (or de Hese). This may be derived from the medieval clan from Saxony, who trace their origins back to 1268. The modern Heise family likely originated from this same clan, who had settled in various regions in Europe over the centuries, likely due to a combination of political, economic and social factors.
Variations of the surname Heise
The Heise surname has multiple variants, spelling variations, and surnames that all have the same origin. Among the most common variants are Heiser, Heyse, Heese, Heiz, Hays, Hasse, and Heese. Since surnames can be translated differently amongst regions and languages, its variations are plentiful.
In German, the surname has evolved into names such as Heisele and Heysel. In Dutch, variations such as Hees and Heezele occur. In Pre-Modern German, spellings like Hayser and Heeser can be seen. Other spellings like Hass and Hasso are prominent in West Prussia.
In Scandinavia, the surname has evolved into Heis, Hejs, and Heyse. In the United Kingdom, Heise may be pronounced as Hice or Heise. Additionally, in England, the surname can also be found as Hiise.
The Heise surname originates from the Middle High German word "heise", which meant "brave". Variations such as Heiser or Heyse may mean protective or brave. In Northern Germany, Heise may originate from the place name ‘Heinz’. It is also possible that some variants may be derived from a short form of ‘Johannes’, which means ‘God is gracious’.
The surname Heise, therefore, is an inherited surname documented since the medieval period. It is derived from a variety of sources, and consequently has several variants, spellings, and surnames all of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Heise
- Luise Heise: German actress, known for Der Diktator (2009), Wetlands (2013) and Der Würger vom tower of pisa (2005).
- Kimberly Heise: American actress and producer, known for her roles in Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, The Beach Girls and Any Given Sunday.
- Bryan Heise: American race car driver, driving for CAP Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
- Christine Heise: German actress, known for her appearances in movies like Das falsche Wissen (2015) and Unter der Sonne (2011).
- Johanna Heise: German rhythmic gymnast, World cup gold medalist and European Championship silver medalist.
- Denise Heise: American musical theater performer and voice-over artist, known as part of the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats.
- Bill Heise: American politician who served as the Kansas State Representative and Senate Minority Leader.
- Turi Heise: Norwegian journalist and writer, currently the editor of the website Liberaleren.no.
- Kurt Heise: German-born American soccer player who played for the United States national team in two matches.
- Tricia Heise: German model and actress, known for her roles in Die Wache (1995) and Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003).