Surname Behringhoff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Behringhoff: What does the surname Behringhoff mean?
The last name Behringhoff is believed to be of German origin. It is thought to be derived from the old German surname "Berhinghofen," which is derived from "Berh," meaning "bear" and "Hof," meaning "court" or "estate." The original bearer of the name was a man of the bear court, the lord or protector of bears and a bearkeeper.
Behringhoff is typically a patronymic surname, meaning it indicates descent from a father, and it's linked to the Berhingh family of Germany. It may also be a variant of the surname Berghoff or Behr, which is linked to the Bergh family from the German region of Bavaria.
The alternative spellings of Behringhoff include Berhinghoff, Berbringhoff, and Behringhofer. Throughout the years the last name has had many different spelling variations as well, common alternatives being Berenger, Beringer, and Bering.
Behringhoff is still a very common surname today, found mainly in Germany but also in other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It is likely that many of the descendants of the Berhingh family migrated to other countries, possibly due to political, religious, and economic reasons.
Order DNA origin analysisBehringhoff: Where does the name Behringhoff come from?
The last name Behringhoff is most commonly found in Germany, as well as many other parts of Central and Western Europe. It is especially common in Germany, where it appears as one of the top 1,000 surnames in the region. In other parts of Europe, the name is less common, but it has spread with migration and can be found in North America, especially in the United States and Canada.
Behringhoff is likely a habitational name, referring to a place of origin for the family. The most likely source of the name is a hamlet in Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which was originally recorded as "Beringehus" in 1362. As a result, it is probable that descendents of the Behringhoffs are descendants of the original inhabitants of Werne.
Tracing a family tree may be a challenge for those with the Behringhoff surname, as the name itself is not very distinctive and its origins are so widely dispersed. Nevertheless, modern technology and accessible genealogical databases can make the search easier as long as you have some information about family members or relatives to use as a starting point.
Variations of the surname Behringhoff
Behringhoff is a German surname with several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spelling is Behringhoff, though other spellings include Berringhoff, Behringhauff, and Behrangoff. Variations in spelling might result from a different origin language and dialect or as a result of linguistic and historical changes. Originally, the name may have originated from the Middle High German 'Berenhog', meaning 'bear-manor', 'bear-field', or 'bear-hill'.
Surnames of the same origin, all derived from 'Berenhog', include Behning, Behninger, Behring, Behringer, Behrng, Behernhoff, Behernhuff, Beherngoff, and Behnhoff. These surnames are all derived from the Germanic root 'bern', meaning 'bear', plus 'hog', meaning 'hill', 'manor', or 'field'.
Other surnames thought to be related to the Behringhoff surname include Behran, Behrand, Beran, Berrand, Berran, Berrians, Berrigan, Berrington, and Berrngoff. All of these surnames are thought to have the same origin, as they share the same 'bern' root. Some of these may also be the result of different regional dialects, further leading to spelling variations.
Overall, the surname Behringhoff, and its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin represent a long line of Germanic ancestry, with historical and linguistic roots that can help us better understand its diverse history.
Famous people with the name Behringhoff
- Friedrich Behringhoff: German aerospace engineer and author focusing on advanced technology.
- John Behringhoff: American football coach.
- Annette Behringhoff: German politician.
- Bob Behringhoff: French ski athlete who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics.
- Andreas Behringhoff: German politician.
- Tom Behringhoff: German economist who served as a professor of Business Administration at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
- Max Behringhoff: German Olympic fencer.
- Jürgen Behringhoff: German physicist and electrical engineer who worked on the miniaturization of microelectronic components.
- Heinrich Behringhoff: German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag from 1976 to 1990.
- Philipp Behringhoff: German radio host and actor.