Show ContentsHollern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hollern

What does the name Hollern mean?

The history of the Hollern family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Hollern is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Hollern is a name for a person who lived in the Swabian town of Hall. Residents were so named because of the small medieval coin referred to as a heller which was first minted in the town in 1208.

Early Origins of the Hollern family

The surname Hollern was first found in Bavaria, where this family made important contributions toward the development of this kingdom from ancient times. Always prominent in social and political affairs, the family formed alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. In the Middle Ages, the word "heller" referred to the coins that had been produced in Schwaebisch-Hall since the year 1208. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include Herr Volkhart der Heller (1278) of Freiburg, Rudolph der Heller (b.1302,) a farmer in Zuerich, and Johann Heller (1378) of Goerlingen.

Early History of the Hollern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hollern research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1646, 1728 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Hollern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hollern Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Hollern include Heller, Hellern, Heler, Hellers, Hellerer, Helere, Hellere and many more.

Early Notables of the Hollern family

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


Hollern migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Hollerns to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Hollern Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Hollern, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1873 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Hollern (post 1700) +

  • Catherine Malloy Hollern (b. 1955), British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Blackburn (2015-)


  1. 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)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook