Show ContentsHahn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hahn

What does the name Hahn mean?

The German surname Hahn emerged in the lands that formed the powerful German state of Prussia, which at one time was an immense German territory that stretched from France and the Low Countries to the Baltic sea and Poland. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the German territories were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided among the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. Brandenburg-Prussia was essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Hahn family

The surname Hahn was first found in Mecklenburg, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. The name can be traced back to the founder of the Mecklenburg line, Eckhard Hahn, who appears in chronicles as early as 1230; they possessed the estate of Basedow, since 1337 the family seat of the main family branch.

Early History of the Hahn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hahn research. Another 122 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1767, 1769, 1782, 1833 and 1857 are included under the topic Early Hahn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hahn 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 Hahn include Hahn, Hahnn, Hahen, Hahenn, Haahn, Haahnn and others.

Early Notables of the Hahn family

Notable figures of the time with the name Hahn were

  • Elise Hahn (1769-1833), who wrote several plays and poetry
  • she proposed to the poet G.A. Buerger (without having met him) through a poem published in a Stuttgart newspaper, producing the desired marriage that unfortunately only lasted two years. Count Karl Fr...

Hahn Ranking

In the United States, the name Hahn is the 925th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Hahn is ranked the 5,465th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


Hahn migration to the United States +

Prussia played an extremely influential role in shaping modern German history. It remained a part of Germany until after the Second World War. Prussia was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. Many Prussians became residents of these new countries after the War, and many migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly to Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Hahn were

Hahn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Georg Hahn, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 3
  • M E Hahn, who arrived in Maryland in 1715 3
  • Georg Philipp Hahn, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1723 3
  • Maria Elizabeth Hahn, who settled in Philadelphia in 1738
  • Johanes Hahn, who settled in Philadelphia in 1739
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hahn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Hahn, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 3
  • Hann Wilh Hahn, aged 15, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 3
  • Anna Elis Hahn, aged 28, who arrived in Brazil in 1830 3
  • Elisabeth Hahn, who arrived in America in 1830 3
  • Geo Rud Hahn, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hahn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hahn Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Sabina Hahn, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1751
Hahn Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Wilhelm Hahn, who landed in Quebec in 1850

Hahn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hahn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Johann Hahn, aged 49, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
  • Friedricke Hahn, aged 44, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
  • Ida Hahn, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
  • Theodor Hahn, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
  • Richard Hahn, aged 8, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hahn (post 1700) +

  • Billy Hahn (1953-2023), American basketball assistant coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers
  • Erwin Louis Hahn (1921-2016), American physicist, best known for his work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), co-winner of the 1983/84 Wolf Prize in Physics
  • Thomas Marshall Hahn Jr. (1926-2016), American educator, 11th President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1962-1974)
  • Archie Hahn (1880-1955), American winner of three gold Olympic medals for running at the 1904 games
  • Donald Antone Hahn (b. 1948), American former Major League Baseball outfielder
  • Charles Archibald "Archie" Hahn (1880-1955), German-born, American three-time gold medalist in the 60, 100 and 200 meters at the 1904 Summer Olympics
  • John Robert Hahn (b. 1933), American oral surgeon and army officer
  • Carl Horst Hahn (1926-2023), German businessman and chairman of the Volkswagen Group from 1982 to 1993
  • Dr. Carl Wilhelm Hahn (1786-1835), German zoologist
  • Otto Hahn (1879-1968), German chemist who with Strassmann split the uranium atom in 1938, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1945
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Werner Hahn (1920-1941), German Mechanikersobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
  • Walter Hahn (1917-1941), German Matrosenhauptgefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
  • Gerhard Hahn (1920-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
  • Gerhard Hahn (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4


Suggested Readings for the name Hahn +

  • People and Progenitors in My Pedigree by George Franklin Hahn.
  • Rimmonim Bells, Ten Generations of the Behrman, Drucker, Hahn, Stockler, and Sztynberg Families Plus Ten Related Lines by Richard Alperin.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


Houseofnames.com on Facebook