Show ContentsEisenhut History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Eisenhut family originated in Bavaria, Germany. As hereditary surnames were adopted in that area beginning in the 12th century, people were often identified by the kind of work they did. Eisenhut is an occupational name for a ironworker or a smith. The distinguished name Eisenhut is derived from the German word "isen," and the Old German word "isan," which mean "iron." This is also a nickname for a person with a strong will. The second portion of this name, reveals that the original bearer of this name resided in a small settlement. This part of the name is derived from the Old German word "hof," which means settlement, farm or court.

Early Origins of the Eisenhut family

The surname Eisenhut was first found in Bavaria, where the family Eisenhofen earned a significant reputation for its contributions to the region's medieval society. Later the family became more prominent as different branches of the same house acquired distant estates. Eisenhut is a mountain in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria and Eisenhut in German literally translates as "iron hat." It was a term frequently used for what is better known as a kettle hat, a type of helmet made of steel in the shape of a brimmed hat. They were common throughout Medieval Europe, but later fell out of favor. They made a comeback in World War I when the British and the U.S. used a variation of the design. In the latter case, they were known as the Brodie helmet.

Early History of the Eisenhut family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eisenhut research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1525, 1644, 1702 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Eisenhut History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eisenhut Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Eisenhut include Eisenhofen, Eisenhoffen, Eissenhofen, Eissenhoffen, Eysenhofen, Eyssenhofen, Eisenhofer, Eisenhoffer, Eisenhofel, Eisenhofere, Eissenhoffer, Eisenhoffel, Eisenhoffere, Eisenhoffer, Eissenhoffere and many more.

Early Notables of the Eisenhut family

Prominent among members of the name Eisenhut in this period include

  • Minister Eisenhut, leader of 1525 peasant revolt in Bruchsal, Germany


United States Eisenhut 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 Eisenhuts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Eisenhut Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Eisenhut, aged 28, who landed in New York in 1854 [1]
Eisenhut Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Arthur Eisenhut, aged 37, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Touraine" from Havre, France [2]
  • Auguste Eisenhut, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "La Touraine" from Havre, France [2]
  • Frida Eisenhut, aged 28, originally from Appenzell, Switzerland, who arrived in New York, N. Y. in 1919 aboard the ship "Espagne" from Le Havre, France [2]

Contemporary Notables of the name Eisenhut (post 1700) +

  • Neil Eisenhut (b. 1967), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player who played from 1991 to 2003
  • Kari Eisenhut, Swiss glider pilot, 1999 Paragliding World Cup winner


  1. 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)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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