Surname Bährmann - Meaning and Origin
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Bährmann: What does the surname Bährmann mean?
The last name Bährmann is of German origin and is associated with the region of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It's derived from Bahr, a German word for stream, and mann, which is a term meaning "man." Hence the name may originally have been descriptive of someone living near a stream or perhaps even working on it as a fisherman.
The Bährmann name is quite common throughout Germany and is a well-recognized surname, though its precise origins are not known. But the knightly families of Brunswick and Westphalia, both in Lower Saxony, appear to have used this surname as early as the 12th century, and may have derived it from Bahrmann or Bahrenmann, a previously existing toponym of the region.
In modern times, the Bährmann surname is still found as a family name primarily in northern Germany. It is also sometimes spelled Bahrmann or Baermann, although the primary spelling is Bährmann. Its usage is not confined to any one profession or occupation; Bährmanns can be found in many different vocations throughout the world. It is an especially common surname among immigrants to the United States and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisBährmann: Where does the name Bährmann come from?
The last name Bährmann is most common today in Germany. This is not surprising, as it is a German name that dates back many centuries.
The name is still commonly found in the northern German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, particularly in the East Frisian part of Lower Saxony. It is also found in several other European countries, especially in the Czech Republic, where it is known as Bährman or Bárárman.
The Bährmann name is thought to have originated in Lower Saxony as early as the 1300s. It was held by several prominent families, including a famous general of the German Imperial Army who famously won several battles during World War I.
The name is still quite common throughout Europe today, particularly in Germany, and is borne by some notable celebrities and political figures. For example, German football legend Lothar Matthäus was born Lothar Herbert Bährmann, and Christian Democratic Union politician Norbert Röttgen, currently serving as the Member of the Bundestag for Cologne, was born Norbert Bährmann.
The Bährmann name is most common in areas of northern Germany, but can also be found in other European countries and in North America, where it is beginning to become more widespread as a result of family migration.
Variations of the surname Bährmann
The surname Bährmann can be written in different ways, depending on the language or form of address. The variants of this surname include Behrmann, Bahrmann, Bairman, Bairmann, Biermann, Bairmne, Behrman, Baiermann, and Baierman. In some cases, the ä can be replaced with an e or an ae, thus spelling Behrmän, Beermann, and Bäermann.
The most common variation of this surname is Behrmann, which is most likely the original spelling of the name, having possibly first been used in Bavaria and Saxony. It can be derived from Middle High German berm, meaning 'bare', or beren, referring to the act of carrying. According to some sources, Bährmann has its roots in Old German bahr, meaning 'shore', suggesting the original bearers of the name were people who lived near a river or a lake.
Behmann, Bährman, Bahr, Bähren, Behrens, Behr, Bahrens, Baire, Bair, Bäir, Bären, Bear, Behre, Bayr, and Bajer are also variants of Bährmann. Since spellings of surnames have altered over time, some variations can be found in documents from centuries ago which have long since changed. For instance, the surname Bierman has its roots in the Alemannic language branch of Old High German, meaning a 'malt-/barley-farmer'. In some areas, names like Bährmann may have been changed to 'Berman', creating yet another variant of this family name.
Many of the spellings of this surname appear across Europe, indicating that it was likely a popular name that was used widely and has been passed down through the centuries. It is possible that other spelling or surname variants can be found, but the ones listed are the most commonly used and recognize variants.
Famous people with the name Bährmann
- George Bährmann: a British illustrator and landscape painter who lived in the late 19th century and is best known for his scenes of the British countryside.
- Otto Bährmann: an East German ice hockey player, who won silver medals at the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics.
- Richard Bährmann: a German art historian and author in the field of antiquities. He was known for his expertise on Roman art of the early imperial period.
- Hendrick Bährmann: a Dutch painter from the late 17th century, best known for his portraits and landscapes.
- Ernst Bährmann: a German illustrator who established himself as a leading artist for children's books in the 20th century.
- Donatella Bährmann: a German figure skater who competed in ice dance and won a bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships.
- Carsten Bährmann: a German long-distance runner who won a gold medal at the 1999 World Championships.
- Max Bährmann: a German football player who played as a defender for the German Bundesliga team VfB Stuttgart.
- Laurence Bährmann: a Belgian swimmer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Friederich Bährmann: a German navigator and explorer of the late 19th century who was part of the German Antarctic expedition of 1901–1903.