Surname Basinger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Basinger: What does the surname Basinger mean?
Basinger is a surname of English origin likely derived from the Old English term 'basingas,' which means 'people of the valley.' The name may have initially been a geographic surname referring to individuals who lived in a valley or basin area. The term ‘ingas’ is a common element in Old English place names, representing 'the people of' or 'the dwellers at.' Meanwhile, 'basin' can refer to a hollow or depression in the earth’s surface. Therefore, in its literal sense, Basinger could be interpreted as 'those dwelling in the valley.' Surnames like this were often used to identify individuals in a larger community with common geographical features such as hills, forests, rivers, or types of dwellings. These names usually told others about the original bearer's dwelling place, occupation, or other identifying traits. Notable people with this surname include Hollywood actress Kim Basinger.
Order DNA origin analysisBasinger: Where does the name Basinger come from?
The surname Basinger is of German origin. It is believed to derive from the name "Basinger", an occupational name for a cooper or a barrel maker, from Middle High German "besingo" which means barrel and "ære", a suffix meaning "someone who works with". The name might have also been associated with a place; there are towns named Bisingen in Germany which could have given rise to this surname. The spelling variations of the surname include Besinger, Basing, Bisinger, and others.
In terms of its distribution, while the Basinger name can be found in various parts of the world, it is most commonly seen in the United States today because of historical migration patterns. According to available census data, states in the U.S. with higher concentrations of individuals with the Basinger surname include Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia. Despite its German roots, the name is less common in Germany today. It is also worth noting that the surname gained recognition worldwide through famous Hollywood actress Kim Basinger.
Variations of the surname Basinger
The surname Basinger originated from the given name "Basinger", derived from Old English. The surname is primarily traced back to the UK, though variations and spelling migrated to various countries over the centuries.
Several spelling variations were developed over time due to linguistic, regional and cultural reasons. Variations include: Basingstoke, Basing, Basings, Basigner, Basginger, Bassynger, Basingger, Bassinger. The spelling Basingstoke could be the name of a place in the UK, but it is also a variant of Basinger. These variations could be due to the evolution of language and regional dialect differences.
The surname can also be found under the form Besinger in some regions, likely due to phonetic interpretations of the name.
Notably, the surname Basinger also spread to Germany in the form of "Basenger" or "Basinger". These spellings were common among German immigrants in the United States, where spelling variations were also recorded due to the way names were transcribed at the time of immigration.
There has been known transposition of letters s and z, which results in variations like Bazinger and Bazingger.
The surname variants are also found in France and other countries, due to migration and anglicization of the original name.
Famous people with the name Basinger
- Kim Basinger: An American actress, singer, and former fashion model who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "L.A. Confidential". She has appeared in numerous popular films like "Never Say Never Again", "The Natural", and "Batman".
- Ireland Basinger-Baldwin: An American fashion model and actress. She is the daughter of Kim Basinger and actor Alec Baldwin.
- Brighton Sharbino (Brighton Rosie Basinger Sharbino): The actress known for her roles in "The Walking Dead" and "True Detective", also bears the Basinger name. Brighton is a relative of Kim Basinger.
- Robert Guy Basinger: An American production designer and art director known for his work on various Hollywood films. He is the brother of Kim Basinger.
- Skip Basinger: He is known for his work on "The Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature" (2001), "The Medallion" (2003) and "Les & Max" (2006). He is Kim Basinger's brother.
- Barbara Basinger: An American model and actress, she is the ex-wife of actor Gary Lockwood and aunt to Academy Award-winning actress Kim Basinger.