Surname Behnen - Meaning and Origin
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Behnen: What does the surname Behnen mean?
The surname Behnen is of German origin. It is derived from the German word “behning,” meaning a bee-keeper. The name can be found in the regions of Germany where beekeeping was a common profession, such as in Westphalia. It is believed to have been around since medieval times.
Behnen is generally a patronymic surname, meaning it was taken from the name of the father or an ancestor. Variations of the name include Behning, Behne, Beihen, Benen and Bennen. The suffix -en or -in suggests a diminutive form of the word, meaning one who works with or takes care of bees.
The Behnens are a proud family. They are known for their hard work and dedication, and many members of the family have achieved great success in their respective fields. As such, they have earned a great amount of respect within their community.
Although the surname is relatively uncommon today, with fewer than 7,000 people bearing the name in the United States, it’s still a positive reminder of a hardworking family and its legacy. For centuries, the Behnens have been known and respected for their tenacious spirit and tireless work ethic, attributes that will continue to be upheld for many generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisBehnen: Where does the name Behnen come from?
The surname Behnen is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. According to the Genealogical Society of America, one of the oldest records of the surname trace back to a Johannes Behnen who was listed in the city of Rees in the early 1600s.
Within Germany the surname is most frequently located in the area around the Ruhr river basin, which is located in the states of North-Rhine Westphalia, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. The surname is also found in Austria, as well as in Alsace-Lorraine, which is located on the border between France and Germany.
A notable person with the surname is Gustav Behnen, who served as mayor of the small town of Eschwege in the state of Hesse from 1902-1906. In addition to this, there have been a few with the surname who have served in various levels of government in Germany and Austria.
Outside Germany, the surname is widely scattered across the world, and most of these can be traced to 18th and 19th-century migrants from Germany. Many of these can be found in the United States, particularly in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The surname may also be found in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Behnen
The surname Behnen is a variant of the last name Behen or Behn. This surname is of English and German origin and likely derived from the Late Middle English name Beheman (or Behemen), a diminutive of Robert. The surname Behnen is derived from the Middle Low German name Behnen or Behne, with the 'e' pronounced as 'eh', and is related to the German name Behne, a variant of the word Behn, meaning 'skiff', 'boatman', or 'mariner'.
The surname Behnen can be found in numerous spellings, including Bahn, Baehn, Bahne, Behen, Behn, Beem, Beemann, Beeman, Baehmann, Bahm, Bohm, Boehm, Behme, Bahmke, Behem, Behnke, and Baehmke.
The German, Dutch and Flemish versions of the surname are Behn, Behnke, Behm, and Behmann. In Denmark, the variant spelling is Beheim, which is more commonly known in Britain as Beam. The Dutch equivalent of Behn is Been and the Norwegian Behn is Behnnes.
Behne is an anglicised version of the surname, and in Scotland, it is also seen spelled as Beehen or Bhehan. Variants of Behnen were also found in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and other German-speaking areas, and may take the form of Böhn, Böhnke, Böhnen, and Böhmann.
The Anglicised version of Behnen is most commonly seen as Be month, Benham, and Benhams.
It is also possible to quantify the various surnames under the umbrella term of Behnen, as it can also be spelled as Behnemann, Böhnemann, and Böhnenmann.
In short, the surname Behnen is a variant of the English and German name Behen or Behn and is found in many other forms and spellings, including Bahn, Baehn, Bahne, Behen, Behn, Beem, Beemann, Beeman, Baehmann, Bahm, Bohm, Boehm, Behme, Bahmke, Behem, Behnke, Baehmke, Behm, Behmann, Beheim, Beam, Been, Behnnes, Beehen, Bhehan, Behnemann, Böhnemann, and Böhnenmann.
Famous people with the name Behnen
1.Reinhard Behnen, German Christian Democratic politician 2.Kai Behnen, Estonian bobsledder 3.Maren Behnen, German radio reporter 4.Alfred Behnen, Canadian-born American real estate developer 5.Jürgen Behnen, German painter 6.Thomas E. Behnen, American actor 7.John Behnen, American artist 8.Caroline Behnen, German alpine skier 9.Ann Behnen, Swiss judoka 10.Steffen Behnen, German racing cyclist