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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Heidenrich m. The prototheme is disputed (cf. Brechenmacher s.n. Heidenreich), and may be Old High German heida 'heath', elongated with -n-, or Old High German heidano 'heathen'. The deuterotheme is Old High German rih 'ruler'.

It has been claimed that Heinrich (cf. Henry) is a contraction of Heidenrich (cf. Brechenmacher s.n. Heidenreich), but early forms show that this cannot be the case.

Estonia
Middle Low German
● 1389 Heidenrich BbRT p. 339, Heydenrich ibid. p. 340; 1436 Heydenryck ibid. p. 359
Germany
Latin
● 1200 Heidenricus (nom) hennes-vol1 5; 1408 Heidenrici (gen) UrkJen2 9
Italy
Latin
● 1261 Haidenricus (nom) FRA-XXXL 209, Heidenricus (nom) ibid. 211
Latvia
Latin
◑ 1291 Heydekino (dat) RigSB 28
The Netherlands
Latin
● 1268 heijdenrici (gen) GesOIJ-1 p. 295, heijdenricus (nom) ibid. p. 295
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Heidenrich". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2018, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2018/1/name/Heidenrich.