The name is derived from the former name of the local St. John's Monastery, Herwardeshude, which had been located in Altona near today's street and small stream of Pepermölenbek at least since 1246. Herward was a common name in the 12th and 13th century, so it is assumed that the name means a stockyard near a ferry dock (Hude), which was founded by a man called Herward. Later, in 1295, the monastery moved to today's Harvestehude area, transferring the monastery's name to the new area. Hamburg history writer Otto Beneke noticed that the place was also called Herbstehude by some, which was according to him indeed correct, because Herbst (autumn) translates to Harvest in Low German.[2] In 1530, the monastery was demolished, and the area came under municipal administration.
Contrary to what its name suggests, the church of St. John's Harvestehude, which was built 1880-82, is today located in the neighbouring Rotherbaum quarter. Conversely, the Tennis court Am Rothenbaum and the NDR broadcasting center ("Funkhaus am Rothenbaum") are located in the quarter of Harvestehude.[3]
^Beneke, Otto (1886). "Das alte Harvestehude". Hamburgische Geschichten und Sagen (in German). Hamburg. p. 27. OCLC832777787.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
