Surname Berkholz - Meaning and Origin
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Berkholz: What does the surname Berkholz mean?
The last name Berkholz is of German and Dutch origin. Literally translating to ‘birch twig’, it is thought to be an occupational name for woodcutters or those who worked in some other profession related to wood. It may also have evolved from a location name, which was derived from the word ‘burgh’, meaning ‘fort’ or ‘stronghold’. People bearing the Berkholz surname were likely to have had some connection to wood-related trades or, in some cases, to fortresses.
The Berkholz name appears in records throughout Europe from the Middle Ages on. The earliest known record of the name is found in 1248, in a reference to Heinricus de Bercholte, a tax collector living in the German state of Bavaria. The surname also appears in records in the Netherlands, with Mathys van Berkholt recorded in 1311. The surname is found in areas where Germans had emigrated and influenced local language and customs.
Throughout time, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname have changed slightly, accounting for some of the varieties of the surname, such as Berkolt, Brukolt, Berkolz, and Birkelhaupt. It’s also likely that the name has been corrupted in some cases from other words, such as Berch principale.
Today, the Berkholz surname is found in many countries around the world. Notable figures with the surname include Aaron Berkholz, who is an associate professor of mathematics at the Berlin Mathematical School, and Frank Berkholz, a German-American sociologist.
Order DNA origin analysisBerkholz: Where does the name Berkholz come from?
The last name Berkholz is common today in Germany, Poland, and the United States. It is believed to have originated in Germany and migrated to Eastern Europe over the centuries. In its various spellings (Bercholz, Berghholz, Berkholc, etc.), families with this surname can be found in states such as Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and California.
In Germany, the Berkholz family is well established with branches throughout Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Mecklenberg-Vorpommern and Thuringia. The surname is believed to originate from the north German region of Oels or the area surrounding Berlin. The surname is quite ancient and there is evidence of it existing from as early as the 16th century.
In Poland, the family name can be found in the provinces of Pomorskie, Malopolskie, and Lower Silesian Voivodeship, and other parts of the country as well. The Berkholz family may have arrived in Poland from Germany in the 18th century and then eventually made their way to the United States.
Overall, the last name Berkholz is not particularly common in many countries today, but it is slowly gaining recognition in Germany, Poland, and the United States. There has even been evidence of it cropping up in France, Spain, and Russia over the last few centuries.
Variations of the surname Berkholz
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Berkholz are Boerholz, Börholz, Börkelz, Borkholz, Borkholtz, Berholz, Berkellz, Berkelz, Berkhoff and Bertelz.
Berkholz is an occupational surname which originates from the Middle Low German words ‘berch’ and ‘holz’ meaning ‘hill wood’. It is believed that the surname was derived from those who worked as woodcutters or foresters in the hills and forests of Germany.
The variants of the surname Berkholz include Boerholz, which is derived from the slightly more archaic Middle Low German word ‘boer’, meaning ‘forest’; Börholz, which is based on the word ‘bör’, which parallels ‘berch’ as a meaning of ‘hill wood’; Börkelz, which is derived from the Middle Low German word ‘bork’, meaning ‘bark’; and Borkholz, which is derived from the Middle Low German word ‘borch’, meaning ‘pine forest’.
Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Borkholtz, Berholz, Berkellz, Berkelz, Berkhoff and Bertelz. All of these surnames share the same connotations as Berkholz originally did - referring to those working in the forestry, woodcutting or carpentry professions.
Ultimately, these variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Berkholz all derive from the same occupational roots and intentions. As such, while they may have evolved over time to change certain bits of language or pronunciation, the overall intention of the surnames remains the same.
Famous people with the name Berkholz
- Herbert Berkholz: German sports journalist and author
- Sven Berkholz: German football manager
- Heiko Berkholz: German archaeologist, art historian and professor at the University of Hamburg
- Christoph Berkholz: German software engineer and web designer
- Harry Berkholz: American film production assistant
- Rudolf Berkholz: German former Olympic swimmer
- Astrid Berkholz: German lawyer and bailiff
- Fred Berkholz: American professional football player
- Mark Berkholz: American former baseball player
- Helga Berkholz: German novelist, poet, and literary translator