The German
family name Haetinger is classified as being of habitation name origin.
Habitation names are those family names which are derived from either
the location of the place of residence of the initial bearer or from
the name of the town or village from whence he hailed. In some
instances, a habitation name refers to a residence which was
distinguished by a sign or engraving, usually displayed over the door.
In this particular instance, the name Haetinger may be traced to any of
several settlements called Hettingen, among them one located in Baden
and another in the historic region of Hohenzollern in Württemberg.
According to Dr. Hans Brechenmacher, Hettingen in Hohenzollern was
originally called "Hätingen". Dr. Hans Bahlow has suggested that
the place-name itself developed from a word denothing mud or moor.
Variants of the surname Haettinger include Hättinger and
Hettinger. One of the earliest references to this name or to a variant
is a record of one called "Der Hättinger" who was a resident of
Altheim near Riedlingen in the year 1300. However, research is of
course ongoing and this name may have been documented even earlier than
the date indicated above.
Germany was one of the first countries in Western
Europe to employ fixed family names that were passed on from one
generation to the next. Indeed, we find recorded in the "Ulmisches
Urkundenbuch" (Reference Book of the City of Ulm) a surname which dates
as far back as 1208 while there are some German names which were
recorded in the twelfth century. Notable bearers of the surname include
the abbot Martin Haettinger, a Bavarian who lived from 1555 until 1615.
BLAZON OF ARMS: Per pale argent and gules; overall a
mound of three vert surmounted by a parakeet of the same, beaked and
membered gules, with collar or.
CREST: A hat gules, turned-up argent,
surmounted by the parakket.
ORIGIN: GERMANY
The
Historical Research Center, at november 27th., 1996.
