Horn (surname)

The surname Horn has several possible origins, primarily as a descriptive or occupational name. These include:

• English: Derived from residence near a prominent horn-shaped hill or bend in a river. From the Old English word "horn," meaning "horn" or "projection." It could also denote someone who lived near a landmark made of an animal horn.

• German: Similar to the English origin, derived from a topographical feature resembling a horn. Alternatively, it could be a short form of a personal name containing the element "horn," meaning "point" or "corner."

• Jewish (Ashkenazic): An ornamental surname taken from the German word "Horn," meaning "horn." These surnames were often adopted in the 18th and 19th centuries by Jews undergoing assimilation or forced to adopt surnames by government decree.

• Occupational: In some instances, the name could be occupational, referring to someone who made or sold objects made of horn, such as horn combs, drinking horns, or musical instruments.

The surname is found in various spellings and forms across different European languages. The distribution of the surname is most concentrated in English-speaking countries and Germany.