Show ContentsHollweg History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the distinguished German surname Hollweg lie in the province of Westphalia. The name is derived from the Old High German words "hal," meaning "hollow," and "weg," meaning "way." Thus, the name was most likely originally borne either by someone who lived near a ravine or a narrow pass or by someone who worked as a road mender, filling in hollows in public pathways.

Early Origins of the Hollweg family

The surname Hollweg was first found in Westphalia, where it is believed that the name first emerged as a surname. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Giselbert Holewecke, who was living in Cologne in 1159. Due to the occupational and habitational origins of the name, it is likely that several original bearers emerged independently in various regions of Germany during the early Middle Ages, creating many branches of the Hollweg family.

Early History of the Hollweg family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollweg research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1159, 1284, 1545 and 1628 are included under the topic Early Hollweg History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollweg Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Holweger, Holweg, Hollweg, Hohlweg, Hollweger, Hohlweger, Hohlwecker, Hohlweck, Holwegk, Holenweger, Hohlenweger, Hollenweger, Holweck, Hohlwecker and many more.

Early Notables of the Hollweg family

More information is included under the topic Early Hollweg Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hollweg family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Nicolas Holweck, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1763; George Hohlweg, who applied for naturalization in Missouri in 1844; Diedr Holweg, who traveled from Bremen to New York in 1850.


Contemporary Notables of the name Hollweg (post 1700) +

  • Ryan Hollweg (b. 1983), American professional ice hockey forward
  • Theobald Theodor Friedrich Alfred von Bethmann Hollweg (b. 1856), German politician, Chancellor of the German Empire from 1909 to 1917
  • Ilse Hollweg (1922-1990), German operatic coloratura soprano from Solingen, Germany
  • Rebecca Hollweg (b. 1964), English singer-songwriter
  • Alexander Hollweg (1936-2020), British painter and sculptor from Kensington, London


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