Surname Barkholdt - Meaning and Origin
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Barkholdt: What does the surname Barkholdt mean?
The last name Barkholdt is a German surname. It is derived from the German words 'Barkhalt' or 'Barkhultan', meaning 'person from barkhalt'. The name is also seen as 'Barkhals' in German records.
In Middle High German, 'Barkhalt' and 'Barkhultan' referred to a settlement of people living close to a forest or a wooded area. They may have provided wood for fuel, timber, crafts and construction materials. In addition, they acted as guards for local people and property.
The Barkholdt surname has a long history, and has probably been around since the Middle Ages. It is especially common in Germany, where it is mainly found in rural areas. There is a family with the Barkholdt surname living in the city of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, descended from Heinrich Barkholdt who lived in the village of Rotach.
The name Barkholdt is commonly found all over the German diaspora and in countries with strong German ancestry, such as the United States, Canada and Australia. It is a strong family name, synonymous with a long history and symbolic of the presence of German culture in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBarkholdt: Where does the name Barkholdt come from?
The last name Barkholdt is found mostly in northern Germany with a pocket of additional concentrations in the U.S. and Australia. Barkholdt is a patronymic name derived from the German forename "Birkhalt," which was in use among Germanic-speaking peoples in the Middle Ages. In northern Germany, the greatest number of Barkholdts found are in the states of Schleswig Holstein and Mecklenburg.
In the United States, the last name can be found in the Midwest, a particular concentration in Wisconsin. There is an additional, smaller number in Michigan, Iowa, and Illinois particularly. It is believed that many of the U.S. Barkholdts have Germanic ancestry; many of these settlers left Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking a better life in America.
Australians with the last name of Barkholdt are believed to be descended from German settlers as well, although the family can also be traced back to English and Dutch roots. Most Barkholdts found in Australia can be located in the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
The last name Barkholdt still exists today, albeit in smaller numbers than its peak in the late 19th century. The shared history of this family persists, with relatives in both Germany and abroad throughout the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname Barkholdt
The surname Barkholdt has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. It is most commonly spelled Barkholdt but is also found spelled 'Berchholdt', 'Bercholt', 'Birchholdt', 'Barcholdt', 'Bercholt', 'Borchholdt', 'Barchhold', 'Berchold', 'Barkhold', 'Birchholz', 'Birchhoff', 'Barckholtz', 'Barckholt', 'Birchholtz', 'Berkholz', 'Berchholtz', 'Barchholt', 'Berchholt', 'Borkholdt', and 'Borkholt'.
The origin of the surname is from the German word 'Berch', meaning birch tree. This implies that the original bearer of the surname may have been a person who was associated with a birch tree, most likely in a place name or topographic feature, such as a hill, forest, or field. The first record of the name dates back to the early 1300s and is found in the records of the Seborga family in Germany.
Variants of the Barkholdt surname are derived from various other languages, including German, Dutch, German-Jewish, Swedish, and Czech. The name Borckholdt is derived from the Dutch word 'Borch', while the German-Jewish surname Birckholz is derived from the Yiddish word 'Bircholz'. The variant Berkholz is derived from German, while the Swedish variant Birchhoff and the Czech variant Barcholdt stem from the Slavic languages.
In conclusion, the surname Barkholdt has many variants and spellings of similar origin. These variants stem from various languages, such as German, Dutch, German-Jewish, Swedish, and Czech, and many of them are derived from words for a birch tree. The first record of the surname dates back to the 1300s and is found in Germany.
Famous people with the name Barkholdt
- Evan Barkholdt: Emmy-nominated Casting Director based in Los Angeles, California, known for his work on the films Desperate Measures (1998), Shadow of a Vampire (2000), and The Aviator (2004).
- James Barkholdt: Award-winning Cinematographer and Director, mainly based in California, known for his documentaries on homelessness and humanitarian issues.
- Loretta Barkholdt: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, who wrote ‘You & Me’ for the 2006 album Anchors Aweigh.
- Gabriella Barkholdt: Australian makeup artist and contestant on the television competition show The Face of Australia.
- Michelle Barkholdt: Art Director and Set Decorator based in Los Angeles, California, working mainly on television shows and commercials.
- Carla Barkholdt: Stage and Screen actress from Sydney, Australia, who has appeared in the films The Horizon (2016) and The Teller (2018).
- Gordon Barkholdt: Hollywood-based voice actor, known for his work in anime series such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon.
- Justin Barkholdt: Academy Award-nominated Costume Designer based in Los Angeles, California, known for his work on Inglorious Basterds (2009) and Milk (2008).
- Sarah Barkholdt: Award-winning food styling and photography artist, based in California, known for her work on the television series Top Chef.
- Pat Barkholdt: Emmy-Award winning television producer based in New York City, popularly known for the television series Two and a Half Men (2003-2015).