Hirsch
A German and Jewish surname meaning “stag” or “hart,” originally a nickname or emblematic name.
The #2,120 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 18,085 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Hirsch is the German word for a stag or hart, from Old High German hiruz. As a surname, it was used as a nickname, an adopted Jewish surname, or sometimes from a house or sign name showing a stag. The core sense is simply the deer known for antlers and strength.
History
The name is common in German-speaking areas and was also widely adopted by Jewish families, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries when hereditary surnames became more firmly established. Historical writers often grouped it with other animal-based surnames such as Wolf, Lowe, and Adler. It has also entered other languages through migration and assimilation, especially in Central Europe and the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In Hebrew biblical imagery, a deer or hart can symbolize grace and swiftness, which helped make animal surnames like Hirsch especially attractive in Jewish naming traditions.
From the historical record
“HYMAn'^'^ I see Hyman in the Diet. HIRSCH (Ger.) Hart, Stag [O.H.Ger. hiruz] HIRSCHBERG (Ger.) Hart-Hill [O.H.Ger. hiruz + berg] HOFMANN (Ger.) Courtier; Farm-Bailiff [f. Ger. hof^ farm, manor, court, palace, O.Teut. (incl. O.E.) hof + manri]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)