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Ernst History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Ernst History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Switzerland

The Ernst surname is thought to derive from the Old High German word "ernus," which meant "fight." As such, Ernst was most likely originally a nickname for a person or family whose defining characteristic is a serious demeanor or temperament. Nickname surnames were a class of German names derived from "eke-names," or "added names," that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute.

Early Origins of the Ernst family

The surname Ernst was first found in Bavaria, where the family 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.

Early History of the Ernst family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ernst research. Another 234 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1556, 1624, 1644, 1664, 1666, 1675, 1682, 1688, 1695, 1712, 1716, 1719, 1773, 1786, 1787, 1798, 1814, 1832, 1838 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Ernst History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ernst Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Ernst include Ernst, Ernste, Ernest, Errnst, Ernesten, Arnst, Aernst, Arnest and many more.

Early Notables of the Ernst family

Prominent among members of the name Ernst in this period include

Georg Ernst of Limburg Stirum, (died 1666), Count of Limburg Stirum, Count of Bronckhorst, Lord of Wisch, Lichtenvoorde and Wildenborch
Christian Ernst of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1644-1712), Member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

Ernst Ranking

In the United States, the name Ernst is the 2,044^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ernst is ranked the 2,668^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 people with that name. 2

Ernst migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Ernst Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Martin Ernst, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
Johann Ludwig Ernst, who landed in Georgia in 1734-1741 3
Felix Ernst, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1735 3
Sabina Ernst, (b. 1733), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 3
Susanna Catharina Ernst, (b. 1735), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ernst Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A H Ernst, who landed in Ohio in 1807 3
Andreas H Ernst, who landed in Ohio in 1816 3
Zacharias Ernst, who arrived in Ohio in 1816 3
Wilhelm Ernst, aged 32, who landed in New York, NY in 1832 3
Philip Ernst, who landed in New York in 1833 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ernst migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ernst Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Christian Ernst, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Christian Ernst, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Dorothea Ernst, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Mathias Ernst, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Regina Ernst, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757

Ernst Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jacob Ernst, who landed in Manitoba in 1874
Peter Ernst, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
Franz Ernst, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875

Ernst migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ernst Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Franz Hermann Ernst, aged 40, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Victoria"
Mr. Lars Peter Nicholie Ernst, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th March 1863, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Ernst (post 1700) +

Donald W. Ernst (1934-2023), American film, music and sound editor and film producer, editor on Gilligan's Island, Cimarron Strip and Gunsmoke, producer on Aladdin, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and Fantasia 2000
W Gary Ernst (b. 1931), American geologist specializing in petrology and geochemistry
Herman E. Ernst, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Franklin Ernst, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 6th District, 1986 5
Clare E. Ernst, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives from Arenac District, 1962 5
Charles F. Ernst (b. 1892), American Republican politician, Postmaster at St. Joseph, Missouri, 1890-92 5
Charles A. Ernst, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1920; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1928 5
Carl J. Ernst, American politician, Member of University of Nebraska Board of Regents, 1902-08 5
C. E. Ernst, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1932 5
Benjamin H. Ernst, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Tennessee, 1952 5
... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ernst family +

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Otto Ernst (1860-1937), German Cotton Broker from Hamburg, Scheffelstr, Germany, who was a passenger on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire, but later died in hospital from injuries 6
Mrs Elsa Ernst (1874-1937), German passenger from Hamburg, Scheffelstr, Germany, who was a passenger on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire 6

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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/