Ehrhardt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Ehrhardt family is in the German province of Bavaria. Ehrhardt is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. It is a name for a courageous or honorable person. The surname Ehrhardt is composed of two German words meaning honor and bravery.

Early Origins of the Ehrhardt family

The surname Ehrhardt was first found in Bavaria, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. Saint Erhard of Regensburg was bishop of Regensburg in the 7th century. He was also known as Abbot Erhard of EbersheimMunster. He was canonized on the 8th of October 1052, by Pope Leo IX.

Early History of the Ehrhardt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ehrhardt research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1391, 1573, 1752, 1776, 1777, 1786, 1794, 1796, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1824 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Ehrhardt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ehrhardt Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Ehrhardt include Ehrhardt, Ehrhart, Erhart, Erhard, Erhardt, Errheart, Errhart, Errhard, Errhardt, Earhart, Airhart and many more.

Early Notables of the Ehrhardt family

Prominent among members of the name Ehrhardt in this period include

Friedrich Ehrhardt, commander of the 8th Prussian infantry brigade, who was ennobled in 1854; D. Johann Ehrhart, director of the medical school at the University of Innsbruck, was ennobled in the firs...

Ehrhardt Ranking

In the United States, the name Ehrhardt is the 10,773^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ehrhardt is ranked the 5,798^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Ehrhardt migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Ehrhardts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Ehrhardt Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henrich Ehrhardt, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 3
Peter Ehrhardt, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 3
Valledin Ehrhardt, who settled in Philadelphia in 1752
Niclaus Ehrhardt, who settled in Philadelphia in 1754
Nicklaus Ehrhardt, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 3

Ehrhardt Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dietrich Ehrhardt, who landed in New York in 1830 3
Mr. Moritz Ehrhardt, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Apollo"
Mrs. Ehrhardt, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Apollo"
Child Ehrhardt, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Apollo"
Babette Ehrhardt, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ehrhardt (post 1700) +

Horst A. Ehrhardt (b. 1923), birth name of Ross Evans, American actor, best known for his appearences on Twilight Zone (1986) and The Competition (1980)
Bo Ehrhardt, American three-time Robert Festival winning producer, best known for Valhalla Rising (2009) and Dear Wendy (2004)
Clyde Walter Ehrhardt (1921-1963), American football offensive lineman
Welton Claude Ehrhardt (1894-1980), American pitcher in Major League Baseball
Arthur Ehrhardt (1896-1971), German Waffen-SS officer and author
Helmuth Ehrhardt, German psychiatrist
Annelie Ehrhardt (b. 1950), German athlete
Hermann Ehrhardt (1881-1971), German Freikorps commander
Travis Ehrhardt (b. 1989), Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman

Historic Events for the Ehrhardt family +

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Herbert W. Ehrhardt, English 2nd Class passenger residing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping on an overturned boat 4

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/