Heinrich

English

Etymology

Borrowed from German Heinrich.

Proper noun

Heinrich (plural Heinrichs)

1. A surname from German.
2. A male given name from German, equivalent to English Henry.
   • 2023 May 24, Nadine Schmidt and Sophie Tanno, “Germany intensifies scrutiny of far-right AfD, labeling its youth wing ‘extremist’”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     Germany last year said it had foiled an attempt by another far-right group – the Reichsbuerger movement - to plot accused of plotting an attack on Germany’s parliament building, allegedly to overthrow its constitutional order and install the group’s central figure – aristocrat Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss – as leader.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Heinrich is the 4141^st most common surname in the United States, belonging to 8552 individuals. Heinrich is most common among White (94.94%) individuals.

Further reading

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Heinrich”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 2, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 156.

German

Etymology

From Old High German Heimrih, Haimirich (8th century), composed of heim (“home”) + -rih (“suffix for male names, originally a noun meaning king”); corresponds to Proto-West Germanic *Haimarīk, from Proto-Germanic *Haimarīks.

Cognate to English Henry (via French Henri), Dutch Hendrik, Danish Henrik.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈhaɪnʁɪç]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

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Proper noun

Heinrich m (proper noun, strong, genitive Heinrichs)

1. a male given name from Old High German, feminine equivalent Heike or Henny, equivalent to English Henry; diminutive forms Heiko, Heine, Heiner, Heinz, Hein

Proper noun

Heinrich m or f (proper noun, surname, masculine genitive Heinrichs or (with an article) Heinrich, feminine genitive Heinrich, plural Heinrichs)

1. a surname transferred from the given name

Usage notes

• Borne by early German saints and royalty. One of the most common given names in Germany since the Middle Ages.

Related terms

• Emmerich, Harry, Henri, Henry, Hinrich