Surname Berkentien - Meaning and Origin
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Berkentien: What does the surname Berkentien mean?
The last name Berkentien is of Dutch origin. It is derived from an old German word meaning “son of the mountain village”. During the 1500s and 1600s, the name was popular amongst people living in the western part of the Netherlands, particularly around the area of Zeeland.
The family that held the Berkentien surname was related to the von Bocholtz family, who had inherited the name from their grandfather, Dirk Berkentien. This family was well-known throughout Zeeland as owners of several villages, streams, and mills. Over time, the name spread to other areas of the Netherlands, as well other countries in Europe like Germany.
Today, the Berkentien name is found in many places around the world, having become popular over the years. It is also associated with a number of famous people, such as Dutch author Anton Berkentien and former world champion swimmer Pieter van Berkentien. Notably, the name is still found in Zeeland, where it is a popular family name amongst the local population.
Berkentien is a unique last name, now found around the world, that pays homage to the family’s ancestral history in the western Netherlands.
Order DNA origin analysisBerkentien: Where does the name Berkentien come from?
The last name Berkentien is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany today. It is believed that the name originates from the area of West Frisia in the Netherlands, East Frisia in Germany, and parts of Denmark and Germany.
In the Netherlands, the name is most frequently found in the provinces of North and South Holland, but can also be found in Gelderland, Friesland, Zuid-Holland, Groningen, Overijssel, Drenthe, Zeeland, and Utrecht as well. In Germany, it is commonly found in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, and Sachsen-Anhalt, as well as in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg.
In the United States, the name is less common, but can be found in states such as Montana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, New Jersey, and Nevada. According to the United States Census Bureau, the name is most common in Wisconsin. The most recent data suggests that the name is used by only 5 people in the US.
In general, the name is rare, and its origin likely dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when persons from the area of West Frisia emigrated to other parts of Europe as well as to the United States. Today, the name is most commonly associated with those from the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.
Variations of the surname Berkentien
The surname Berkentien is a surname commonly seen in Dutch speaking countries. It has many variants and spellings, some of which include Berkentijn, Berkentin, Berkentine, and Berkenhult. The variants and spellings indicate that this surname, possibly of Dutch origin, is patronymic in nature, as the suffix ‘-tine’ suggests.
From what we can gather, the variant ‘Berkentin’ is the most ancient and geographically spread variant of the surname, and it was most likely the original spelling. Over time, due to regional variation in language, the surname Berkhout developed in the Netherlands and neighboring countries.
From the both variants, numerous surnames of the same origin have emerged. Some of these surnames include Berkersky, Berkhoff, and Berkland. Others include Berkhout, Berkein, Berklynn, and Berkley.
The many variants and spellings of the Berkentien surname speak to the rich history of this surname and the many generations of people it has been passed down to. It is likely that the surname has its roots in a large family tree, as each variant suggests a variation on the same surname.
Famous people with the name Berkentien
- Sugi Berckentin, Indonesian singer
- August Berckentin, former German Austraian explorer
- Joop Berckentin, former Dutch cyclist
- Johannes Berckentin, Dutch footballer
- Arnold Berckentin, German composer
- Dirk Berckentin, Dutch sculptor
- Richard Berckentin, German-born American architect
- Erwin Berckentin, Austrian mathematician
- Jan Berckentin, Dutch theater director
- Eugen Berckentin, Russian- born Austrian actor.