Show ContentsHertzler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Hertzler family is in the German province of Bavaria. Hertzler 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 kindhearted or stalwart individual, and is derived from the German word herz, which means heart.

Early Origins of the Hertzler family

The surname Hertzler was first found in Bavaria, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this district from ancient times. Always prominent in social and political affairs, the family formed alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Martin Hercz, who lived in the Bohemian town of Iglau around the year 1383.

Early History of the Hertzler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hertzler research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1803, 1835, 1888 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Hertzler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hertzler 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 Hertzler include Hertz, Hertze, Herttz, Herttze, Herz, Herze, Herzz, Herzze, Haertz, Haerz, Herts and many more.

Early Notables of the Hertzler family

Prominent among members of the name Hertzler in this period include Henri Herz (1803-1888), who was a German pianist and composer. A celebrated concert pianist, he also founded his...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hertzler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hertzler Ranking

In the United States, the name Hertzler is the 18,658th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Hertzler migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hertzler or a variant listed above:

Hertzler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Hertzler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
  • Johannes Hertzler, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
  • Hans Hertzler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 2
Hertzler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Hertzler, who landed in Ohio in 1834 2
  • Christian Hertzler, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Hertzler (post 1700) +

  • William Hertzler, American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 31st District, 1897-1900 3
  • Harry Hertzler, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1912 3
  • Austin B. Hertzler, American Republican politician, Chair of Cumberland County Republican Party, 1927 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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