This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
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; 1273 Heidenrico (abl) ibid. 229, Heindenricum (acc) ibid. 229; 1281 Heydenrico (abl) ibid. 279; 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 2021, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2021/1/name/Heidenrich.