Surname Boeckh - Meaning and Origin

Boeckh: What does the surname Boeckh mean?

The last name Boeckh is a German surname, derived from Middle German "Boecke," meaning "book." One theory is that the name first became associated with bookbinders, or those who sell or transcribe books. However, another possible origin is from the similar Middle German word "böke," which means beech tree. This points to a possible distant ancestor of the Boeckh family as a beechwood forester.

The Boeckh name is most common in Germany and Austria, and is still bestowed in these countries today. Although the surname has been held by some famous people, such as Thomson Reuters' CFO Patrice Boeckh, the name is not widely known outside the German-speaking community.

The Boeckh surname could have also derived from a personal nickname or from a place of origin: someone who lived by a beechwood tree or a volunteer bookseller. There are multiple recorded spelling variations of the Boeckh name, including Böck, Böckh and Boeckh. Some of the alternate spellings can be attributed to the dialectal differences between the German and Austrian languages.

The Boeckh name may be rooted in its bearer's bookbinding or forestry heritage; however, its true origin story remains unknown. Its prevalence, particularly in Germany, suggests that those bearing the name are a part of a long proud tradition.

Boeckh: Where does the name Boeckh come from?

The last name Boeckh is most commonly found in Germany. It is believed to be derived from the German word "bock," which was an old Germanic word meaning male goat, buck, or he-goat. The name is believed to have originally been a nickname, because of the animal connotations, and came to be used as a given name and eventually a surname.

Today, Boeckh is primarily a surname found among German and Jewish populations, primarily located in the German states of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and in various parts of Germany's Jewish diaspora. As a result, it is also seen among Jewish populations in other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Israel, and other countries.

Although fairly uncommon, the surname has variations, such as Beckh, Bock, Bockh, Bo’eh, Böckh, Boch, Bokh, and Boehck, which are largely found in the German-speaking countries mentioned.

The Boeckh family was part of the old Prussian Uradel, or nobility, and has provided notable people, including authors, university professors, counselors, clergymen, and physicians to various German empires.

Although considered rare, the Boeckh surname is still in use today, largely among German-speaking populations.

Variations of the surname Boeckh

The surname Boeckh is most commonly spelled “Böckh” in German, as well as “Bockh” and “Boekh”, and is derived from the lower-German language “Boke”, which stands for “beech tree”. The original form of the surname dates back to the early 13th century, when it would have been spelled “Böke” or “Bokez” and meaning “descendant of the beech tree”.

Over the centuries, the surname has had numerous other spellings and variants, including Buecke, Bueckh, Buech, Buechs, Boecke, Boeck, Boeckh, Boeche, Boeke, Boecher, Boeker, Boch, Bockes, Bockh, Bokh, Booch and Boock.

A number of different surnames have also had the same origin, such as Boecken, Bocken, Boeckel, Boecksen, Boockmann, Boockmeier, Buckel, Buchholz, Buecker, Bueckers, Bueckermeyer, Buhl, Buckelmann, Bucken, Buckert, Bueckelmann, Bueckmann, Buchmueller, Burckhardt and Bueckel.

In addition, there are several variations of the Boeckh surname in other parts of Europe, including Bečka (in Poland), Béckev (in Hungary) and Bezzek (in Austria).

The spelling of surname Böckh has been found in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world as immigrants from Germany and other parts of Europe have spread the name outside of their homeland.

Famous people with the name Boeckh

• August Boeckh: German philologist and critic.
• Justin Boeckh: German-born American botanist.
• Albert Boeckh: German philologist.
• Philipp Adolf Boeckh: German language educator and philologist.
• Hermann Boeckh: German historian and writer.
• Otto Guenther Boeckh: German geographer and cartographer.
• Katherine Boeckh: Australian nurse, botanist, and entomologist.
• Charles Boeckh: British painter, illustrator, and author.
• Hugo Boeckh: Austrian architect, restorer, and archaeologist.
• Carl August Boeckh: German entomologist.
• Bernd Boeckh: German goalkeeper.
• Julius Boeckh: German occultist and theologian.
• Edwin Boeckh: German electrical engineer.
• Christopher Boeckh: German biochemist and professor.
• Friedrich Wilhelm Boeckh: German chemist and physicist.
• Finlay Colquhoun Boeckh: British cardiologist.
• Edward William Boeckh: German architect and painter.
• Theodor Boeckh: German court official and jurist.
• Uwe Boeckh: German darts player.
• Charles Frederick Boeckh: British businessman.

Other surnames

BoeckenkampBoeckerBoeckersBoeckl