Recorded as Hederich, Hedrich, Heddrich, Hedderich, Hedditeh, Hettrich, Hettricher, Hetterich, and others, this is a surname of Germanic origins. There seems to be some doubt over the origination, the Wolrd Dictional of Surnames quotes it as being from the early compound name 'Haduric' meaning battle-rule, whilst the German 'Etymologisches Worterbruch der Deutschen' claims also that it is a compound but from Heidenrich which means 'pagan rule'. This goes to prove that if you have the opinions of two experts, they will certainly disagree. Our opinion is that it looks more like Haduric, and that the links appear to cross, so it could be either. Compound names of this type which appear to extoll the virtues of war, battle, conflict as well as total the contradiction of religion, counsel and godliness, seem to sum up the period of history called The Dark Ages, one which we ourselves in the 21st century seem to be heading for very quickly. The first example of the surname recording may be that of Heinrich Hedericus, given as being the Prior of Colbatz, in the year 1243.