Held Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Held last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Held last name
Meaning of the Held last name: "hero". Held is a German surname from Middle High German helt, "hero, brave warrior", a nickname for a bold or boastful man. The last name is most common in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Austria. As a nickname it could be admiring or mocking.
Arms associated with the Held name
In German towns craftsmen used coats of arms too, and heraldry associated with Held grew in that world.
Get your full Held family history
This is only a glimpse of the Held story. The full Held history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Held coat of arms. Get the full Held report.
Held name FAQ
What does the Held name mean?
"hero". Common variants include Helt, Heldt.
Where does the Held surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in Austria, Switzerland and the United States.
Is there a Held coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Held coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).