Surname Birklin - Meaning and Origin
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Birklin: What does the surname Birklin mean?
The last name Birklin is of German origin and is derived from the elements ‘berch' and ‘lin.’ The word ‘berch’ is derived from the Old High German word ‘berg’ which means “mountain,” and ‘lin’ is German for “brook” or “stream”. Therefore, the surname Birklin is derived from a habitational name meaning “someone from a place near a mountain stream.” This could refer to those who lived or worked near mountains with streams.
The surname is widespread throughout Germany, especially in the northeast. It has become Anglicized in various ways, including Berckel, Berckelmann, Birklin, Birchel, and Birckelmann. The multitudes of variations are a testament to its popularity throughout German-speaking lands.
Beyond the physical geographical descriptor, the surname Birklin might be significant for its symbolic value as a symbol of strength and stability. The mountain is often associated with power, authority and insight, while streams offer nourishment and force of movement and growth. Therefore, having a surname meaning “someone from a place near a mountain stream” could evoke imagery of strength, stability, nourishment and development. The surname Birklin could thus denote a kind of grandeur or even nobility.
Order DNA origin analysisBirklin: Where does the name Birklin come from?
The last name Birklin is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia. While it is not considered a particularly common surname elsewhere, there are still a few hundred people in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom who share the surname.
In Germany, the Birklin surname is most commonly found in the Bavaria region. It is also popular in the Thuringia region in eastern Germany. In Austria, the surname is particularly common in the Tyrol region of the country. Furthermore, it is still fairly common in Scandinavia, particularly in Finland.
The surname Birklin has its roots in the Middle High German word “berklin”, which is a diminutive form of “berch”, meaning “a hill covered with trees”. This term was often used to describe boxes, which may explain why some families with the surname Birklin are of the Jewish faith.
The Birklin surname is still a fairly uncommon one, but there are enough individuals with it still living today that the name is likely to be around for many years to come.
Variations of the surname Birklin
Birklin is a Germanic surname that has many variants and spellings. Some of the most common include Burklein, Berkun, Birklein, Birkle, Burklin, Berkel, Berkin, Berkle, Burklein, Birklien, Berklin, and Birklien.
The surname Birklin originated in the Germanic regions of Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Germany. It means "little birch tree" and is likely derived from the Old High German word “berah”, meaning “birch”.
The variants of Birklin vary in spelling, but are similar enough to be used by families who had relocated from the same geographic region. Besides the spelling variants above, other possible spellings of the same name are Berchlin, Brchlen, Verkle, Berclen, Berckel, Birkel, Birchal, Bircle, Birklehn and Burklinn.
The surname has been passed down over generations as families moved to new areas around Europe. It can now be found in large numbers in the United States, particularly in the Midwest, where many families immigrated in the late 19th century.
In most cases, the surname Birklin is referred to as a single name, but each spelling is also maintained as a separate surname. For example, the most common spelling of Birklin is Burklein, but all of its variants and spellings are considered part of the same larger family surname.
Famous people with the name Birklin
- Tim Birklin: German Professional footballer
- Christian Birklin: Swiss movie producer, actor, screenwriter, editor and cinematographer
- Jeff Birklin: Former winner of the MTV Video Music Award
- Maurice Birklin: US Army combat photographer assigned to the 4th Infantry Division during World War II
- Sue Birklin: Award-winning author and inspirational speaker
- Bill Birklin: One of the first professional BMX riders
- Martin Birklin: Swedish modern artist famous for his paintings and sculptures
- Peter Birklin: German Olympic sailor
- Tim Birklin Jr: Award-winning American television director and producer
- Hans Birklin: German photographer known for his black and white city and landscape shots