Surname Birkwald - Meaning and Origin
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Birkwald: What does the surname Birkwald mean?
The surname Birkwald is of German heritage and is derived from the words “Birke” meaning “birch” and “Wald” meaning “forest”. It is a topographical surname indicating that the original bearer of the name lived close to a large wood of birch trees. Given this, it is likely that the area was forested and that large stands of birch trees were common. It is also possible that the person lived in a geographically elevated area surrounded by birch woods, as the suffix “Wald” often implies such a circumstance.
The surname Birkwald would have been particularly common in Germany, where there was no modern surname practice until the 1800s. Before then, individuals were referred to by either their first name or the topography in which they lived. This meant that someone living near a birch forest, particularly in the north German region, was likely to be referred to as “von der Birkwald”, thus becoming the namesake of the Birkwald surname.
It is likely that the name was later adopted by other families due to its attractive nature, with the implication of a long and rich ancestry associated with the German lands. As a result, over time, many people in many places throughout Europe have come to bear the surname Birkwald in various forms.
Order DNA origin analysisBirkwald: Where does the name Birkwald come from?
The last name Birkwald is mostly found in German speaking countries today. In Germany alone, around 5,100 people bear this last name. In Austria there is a reported 1,400 people with Birkwald as their last name. Other countries with Birkwald as their last name are Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, Birkwald is still relatively uncommon. According to the United States Census Bureau, there are only 621 individuals with Birkwald as their last name as of 2019. The highest concentration of the name in the US is found in Minnesota and Wisconsin at around 120 individuals. Other states with significant numbers of Birkwalds include New Mexico with 48, California with 79, and Texas with 91.
The exact origin of the name "Birkwald" is not known. The most likely explanation is that it was derived from Birkwalde, a small town in Northern Germany. The name is derived from a combination of the words "birke" which means "birch" and "wald" which means "forest". This implies that the original name holders may have had associations with the birch trees in that area.
Overall, it appears that the strongest presence of the last name Birkwald is in German speaking countries, with the US being the only exception. Despite this, it is an interesting and rare name throughout the world and has a unique story behind it.
Variations of the surname Birkwald
The surname Birkwald is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words “birken” meaning “birch” and “wald” meaning “wood or forest”. The name is usually seen spelled as Birkwald, Burkwald, Birkenwald, Birchwald, Berkenwald, Birckenwald, Berckenwald, Bierckenwald and Berckwald.
Variant spellings can be attributed to discrepancies in dialect, phonetics, and personal preference. In addition to spelling variations, the surname “Birkwald” may also be seen written as “Birkwaldt” with the suffix “-t” making it a patronymic, or name based on the father's given name. This variant was especially popular in Germany and Poland.
Surnames related to “Birkwald” include Berkowicz, Burtonwald, Bergenwald, Berkwald, Barckley, Borckley, Berensen, Birckbeck, and Bergenbrock. These surnames are likely derived from the same root “birken” and “wald”, but could have developed independently, or developed from different source locations.
The surname “Birkwald” is thought to have first appeared in the medieval German records in the late 1100s and eventually spread to other regions of Europe with German immigrants. It is now most commonly found in Germany, Poland, Austria, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Birkwald
- Bernd Birkwald: a former East German footballer.
- John Birkwald: former American ice hockey player.
- Scott Birkwald: ex-Skateboarder and television actor.
- Richard Birkwald: former vocalist for the metal band Pantera.
- Denise Birkwald: Dutch politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
- Miriam Birkwald: German actress.
- Kerstin Birkwald: German ski jumper.
- Vita Birkwald: Producer and actress.
- Rainer Birkwald: Physicist and Professor at the Institute of Experimental Physics in Dortmund.
- Reinhold Birkwald: German former professional football player.
- Leslie Birkwald: American model and singer-songwriter.
- Konrad Birkwald: German writer and translator.
- Andrea Birkwald: German writer and photographer.
- Walter Birkwald: Jazz musician.
- Annette Birkwald: Writer and journalist.
- Katarina Birkwald: Squash Player.
- Erik Birkwald: German painter and sculptor.
- Axel Birkwald: German East Francian minister and historian.
- Alter Bahnhof Birkwald: 19th-century train station demolished at Arnstadt, Thuringia.
- Ina Birkwald: German engineer and Edu-preneur.