Surname Barkau - Meaning and Origin

Barkau: What does the surname Barkau mean?

The last name Barkau is of German origin and can be traced back to areas of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in the later 18th century. The name is derived from the German word "Barke" (a boat) or "Barkhausen" (a small boat shipyard). The original bearer of the Barkau surname is thought to have been involved in the shipbuilding industry, likely creating or overseeing the building and maintenance of boats for either recreational or commercial purposes.

The Barkau name is likely to have evolved through the centuries and changed slightly depending on the local dialect or language. Depending on the region the surname could also have been spelled with alternate spellings such as Barkow, Berkow or Barkhausen.

In modern times, the Barkau surname is quite common in Germany - particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The surname has also spread to other countries such as the United States and South Africa through immigration. Today, those with the Barkau surname are likely to be related in some way to an ancestor who was part of the shipbuilding industry.

Barkau: Where does the name Barkau come from?

The last name Barkau is most commonly found in countries that are predominantly German speaking, such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. It is also found in some parts of the United States, especially regions with a high population of German descendants. While Barkau is not a common surname in the United States, when tracing the origin of the surname, it is believed that it comes from the old German word “Barco” which meant “creek or stream”. The name Barkau is also found in Russia and Lithuania, both of which were places of German settlement in the past.

In recent years, a number of people with the last name Barkau have migrated to other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. There, Barkau is still a relatively uncommon surname. As such, Barkau families tend to be close-knit and family reunions are common.

The genealogy database site MyHeritage notes that records of Barkau surname have been traced back to the late 17th century in Germany. The Barkaus living in Germany are believed to have been mainly from the Lower Rhineland area. Later, some of the Barkau families moved to the Palatinate regions in the south of Germany.

Interestingly, people with the last name Barkau are also found in the United States, specifically in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. According to the US Census Bureau, there were 41 people with the last name Barkau living in the United States in the year 2000.

Variations of the surname Barkau

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Barkau include Barco, Barcoe, Barcho, Barcoh, Barcou, Barckoe, Barkau, Barkalow, Barkalo, Barquelow, Barchow, Barkalaw, Barkelow, Barkalawe, Barkall, and Barkalloe. The surname originated in Germany and has been in existence for centuries.

Barkau is derived from the Middle High German name Barco and was first recorded in medieval documents as "Barko." The name is derived from the Old High German word "barg," which meant "ace" or "noble man." By the 14th century, the name had been adapted to form the modern “Barkau” spelling.

Variations of the name spread to England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and to other parts of Europe. In England and Scotland, variants of the name have been found in various spellings, such as Barchoe, Barkalow, Barkalo, BarqueLOW, Barkalawe, and Barkalloe. The name is most common in Germany and surrounding countries, with most of the present-day Barkaus being of German-speaking origin.

In the United States, Barco and Barkau are spelled interchangeably, and the name is most common in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. In addition, Barkau is sometimes spelled “Barckoe” in the United States.

In conclusion, the surname Barkau has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that are found throughout Europe and the United States. The variants are derived from the Middle High German name Barco, which was first recorded in medieval documents. Variations of the name can be found in England, Scotland, the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries.

Famous people with the name Barkau

• Breanna Barkau: Breanna Barkau is a professional beach volleyball player. She’s competed in many tournaments including the EDP Beach Tour and AVP Pro Tour events.
• Aaron Barkau: Aaron Barkau is an American film writer and producer. He’s best known for producing the 2019 horror movie, “The Windmill Massacre”.
• Breeze Barkau: Breeze Barkau is an Australian YouTuber most known for her channel “BreezeBarkauVlogs”. She also run a beauty blog and YouTube channel.
• Ralph Barkau: Ralph Barkau is a former American MLB pitcher who played from 1970 to 1976. He was most notably part of the 1974 World Champion Oakland Athletics.
• Emily Barkau: Emily Barkau is a competitive swimmer who specializes in breaststroke. She has represented the United States at international meets, such as the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru.
• Mickey Barkau: Mickey Barkau is a former NFL running back who played for the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Cincinnati Bengals from 1983 to 1985.
• Dwight Barkau: Dwight Barkau is a former Major League Baseball official scorer who worked in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1964 to 1998.
• Tom Barkau: Tom Barkau is an American songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has wrote and produced songs for various artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Kenny Loggins.

Other surnames

Barkar