Surname Berkenthien - Meaning and Origin
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Berkenthien: What does the surname Berkenthien mean?
The surname Berkenthien is an old German last name derived from the two words “berg”, which means mountain, and “kenten”, which means a manor, farm, or homestead. Combined, the name means “manor of the mountain”, and historically referred to people who were associated with noble houses that operated on the mountain (Berk).
This surname is most commonly seen in the German states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Luebeck. It is currently found in several countries, primarily in Western and Central Europe, thanks to centuries of migration.
The most common spelling of the name is Berkenthien, but there are several variations. Other possible spellings include Berkenthin, Berckenthien, Berckenthin, Berskenthien, and Berksenthien.
Being a fairly uncommon surname, there isn't much documentation about the origin and history of the Berkenthien name. What's known is that it is an old name, and that it was associated with a noble family in Germany. The family was likely associated with land in the mountain, as the name implies.
Today, there are several branches of the Berkenthien family living in various parts of the world. As with many surnames, it’s likely that the various branches of the family tree have no direct contact with one another and are unaware of their shared heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisBerkenthien: Where does the name Berkenthien come from?
The last name Berkenthien appears to be most common in areas of northwest Germany, primarily in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In this region of Germany, the name is especially prevalent in the cities of Dortmund, Cologne, and Aachen.
According to a genealogy website, the name was historically most common in Dortmund, an industrial city located on the eastern border of the state. However, research also suggests that the name is also found in several other regions of Germany, including the Bavarian region of the country.
In addition to Germany, the name is also found with some regularity in the Netherlands, where it is most prevalent in the eastern provinces of Overijssel, Gelderland and Friesland.
Outside of Europe, the name Berkenthien (or a variant spelling thereof) is generally not found. This suggests that the name may have originated in Germany, though further research would be needed to confirm this.
In conclusion, the last name Berkenthien appears to be most common in northwest Germany and in the Netherlands today.
Variations of the surname Berkenthien
The surname Berkenthien originates from the city of Bergentheim in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The spelling of the surname can vary depending on location and time period, including but not limited to, Berckingen, Berckink, Berckings, Berckins, Berckington, Berckmeyer, Berckmijer, Berckvink, Berkelman, Berkman and Bierkink.
Variants of the surname Berkenthien may also be seen as the Dutch-Frisian surnames Berkhof, Bergers and Berghout. The Frisian spelling of Berkenthien is also Bierking and this spelling is a commonly used version of the surname.
The spelling of the surname Berkenthien can also change depending on location, as shown through various town surnames that originated from Bergentheim. These surnames include, but are not limited to; Bercans, Berccink, Berckenbusch, Berckenkamp, Berckemper, Berckenpers, Bergers and Bergheer.
Spellings of the surname Berkenthien can also be found in other parts of Europe, where the surname was adapted into different countries. In France, for example, the surname was anglicized to Bercognon and in Germany it was anglicized to Burkinken.
The surname Berkenthien has also been anglicized as Buckley, Beckler and Becherer, which are surnames commonly found in the United States. The English spelling of the surname is also Buckley, as well as Beck, Beckman, Becke and Beckman-Berkenthien.
In conclusion, the surname Berkenthien has taken many forms and spellings throughout the centuries. The various forms and spellings also depend on location, as each country has adapted the surname in its own way.
Famous people with the name Berkenthien
- Reinhold Berkenthien: German architect and urban planner, former professor at Leibniz University Hannover
- David Berkenthien: American attorney and state district judge, former district court judge in Harris County, Texas
- Maximilian Berkenthien: German sculptor and painter, founder of the Berliner Kunstschule
- Tillman Berkenthien: German politician and lawyer, member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
- John Berkenthien: Former professional baseball player, who played outfield for the Chicago Cubs
- Auguste Berkenthien: German writer and poet, author of the poem "Das schöne Leben"
- Karl-Heinz Berkenthien: German diplomat and foreign minister, Ambassador to the United Nations from 1999 to 2001
- Horst Berkenthien: German art historian and collector, founder of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
- Jan-Lorenz Berkenthien: German journalist and television presenter, host of one of Germany’s most popular talk shows
- Katharina Berkenthien: German actress, known for her roles in popular television series such as Unter Uns and Verbotene Liebe