Surname Bergk - Meaning and Origin
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Bergk: What does the surname Bergk mean?
The last name Bergk is of German origin, the word ‘berg’ meaning mountain and ‘k’ being a diminutive suffix. In Germany during the medieval period, the Bergk name most likely arose as a toponymic surname, derived from a nearby geographical feature such as a hill or mountain. As such, it likely originated in the south and southwest parts of the country, territories which would have consisted mainly of uplands and hilly terrain.
At one time, this name was common in German communities, though by the end of the 19th century it had begun to disappear due to events of the time, such as emigration and military conscription. Today, Bergk families still exist in Germany, though the name is now less common. It may also appear elsewhere in the German diaspora, as it spread during those times of upheaval.
The Bergk name carries significant cultural and historical associations specific to its German origins. These links reflect the country’s geography, of course, but equally the central importance of family within German culture. To many, the original Bergk families will forever remain linked to their ancestral homelands, and the hills, mountains and valleys of their native lands.
Order DNA origin analysisBergk: Where does the name Bergk come from?
The last name Bergk is most commonly found in the German-speaking world, especially in Germany and Austria. It is not a particularly common name, but there are some notable people with the last name Bergk.
In Germany, Berlin is the city with the most Bergks in the population—about 750 in 2020. Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg also have sizable numbers of Bergk families. The rest of the country is mostly sparsely populated by Bergk residents. Outside of Germany, there are significant numbers of Bergks in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, America, Canada, and other countries.
Elsewhere in Europe, Bergk can also be found in Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Notably, the Czech Republic has a few hundred Bergks, most of whom live in the municipalities of Prague and Brno.
Bergk is also found in the United States and Canada. In America, the states with the largest number of Bergks living today are New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California, and Washington. There are also some Bergks living in Illinois and Michigan.
In Canada, the provinces with the most Bergks are Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia. Currently, the city with the highest Bergk population in the country is Toronto, followed by Montréal and Edmonton.
Overall, the surname Bergk is most widely found in Germany and Austria, with significant proportions also living in other European countries, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Bergk
Bergk is an occupational surname derived from villages located near hills or mountains. It may refer to a person coming from one of these villages. The variants Bergck, Bergke, Berke, Berck and Bercke are all spellings of the same origin. It also has some other surnames related to it, such as Bergka, Bergkowski, Bergkow, Bergkau, Bergker and Bergkowitz.
The Bergk surname can be found in Germany, Austria, Poland, Russia, and even parts of South America. Members of this family can trace their roots to ancient Germanic cultures. The Bergk family has a long history in Germany, where the surname was a distinguishing feature of many clans. The earliest record of the name exists in Bavaria in the 11th century.
Bergk is derived from the German word meaning hill or mountain. The family is said to have originated from the small Bavarian village of Bergkaiserslauten. From there, the Bergk family spread out across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world.
The Bergk family can also be found in the United States and Canada. Immigrants bearing the Bergk surname first arrived in North America between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, many generations have flourished in the United States and Canada, and have contributed significantly to both countries.
There is also a variation of the surname Bergk known as Bergka. This variant is primarily found in East Prussia, and is a variation of the German Bergk. The Bergka surname is also found in Russia, and some families bearing this name can trace their ancestry back to German settlers who migrated to Russia during the times of the Prussian Empire.
Famous people with the name Bergk
- Yasmina Bergk: German actress and presenter
- Philip Bergk: German landscape and nature photographer
- Hermann Bergk: German art historian
- Matthias Bergk: German composer and songwriter
- Georg Wilhelm von Bergk: Prussian general
- Benno Bergk: German business consultant
- Hanni Bergk: German journalist
- Eduard Bergk: German botanist
- David A. Bergk: American physician
- Fritz Bergk: German general and military epigrapher
- Claus Friedrich Bergk: German military historian