HEINRICH Origin of surname

HEINRICH

Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's personal name.

Heinrich was originally a personal name. It derives from the Hebrew male personal name Hayyim, which means "life". In the Middle Ages quite a few German Jews added the German Heinrich to their Hebrew personal name Hayyim. The shortened form Heine became a pet name and later a family name, also producing the surname Heineman(n).

Hayyim appears in the Bible as a word and not as a name. Since Hayyim in its different forms - Hai, Hiyya, Hihye, and the feminine Haya - can be traced to that early period. In the Middle Ages, it became a popular practice among Ashkenazi Jews to add Hayyim to a personal name either during circumcision or, in the event of sickness or danger, later on in life. This was done to ensure health and long life. Among Sephardi Jews, Hai/Chai ("alive") is still a popular additional name while Yihye ("he will live") was widespread among Yemenite Jews. In the course of Jewish wanderings, the name Hayyim was influenced by local pronunciation - becoming, for example, Aim or Haym in Spain, Heim or Hayems in Germany and Alsace, Chajjim in Turkey, Hagin in England, Hayon, Ouhayon and many others in Arabic-speaking countries. It was translated into Latin as Vives, Vita, Vidal, and into Arabic as Yaish and Ayash. Under German and Yiddish influence Vives became Feives, Feis, Feivush and even Feischel.