Surname Böhnen - Meaning and Origin
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Böhnen: What does the surname Böhnen mean?
The last name Böhnen is of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "böhne," meaning "village" or "settlement." This surname was likely adopted by someone from a village or small settlement in Germany, and the name has been passed down through successive generations.
Böhnen may be a topographic surname, referencing a family's geographical origin, or it may indicate a profession or status such as a peasant, farmer, or courtier. It could also be a patronymic or hereditary name, which means that it was based on the father's given name. In some cases, the Böhnen surname may have originally referred to people from Böhmen, an area now known as Bohemia.
The name Böhnen is quite popular today, with numerous people bearing the name found in Germany and other countries, such as the United States and Canada. In Germany, the Böhnen surname can be found mainly in Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Whether derived from the village, profession, or status of its ancestors, the Böhnen surname is an interesting reminder of Germany's history and culture. The Böhnen family name will likely continue for generations to come, allowing those who bear it to reflect on the life, traditions, and accomplishments of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhnen: Where does the name Böhnen come from?
The last name Böhnen is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word bûn, meaning “to build” or “to build up”. Today, the surname Böhnen is common primarily in Germany and northern Europe. It is also encountered in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries of origin of German immigrants.
In Germany, the surname Böhnen is particularly common in the central and western regions of the country, such as Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and the Rhineland. These areas were historically part of the Holy Roman Empire, among which the surname originated and was mainly found. It is also fairly common in the German-speaking region of Switzerland known as the German-speaking Switzerland. In the United States, the surname is most frequently found in the Midwest, particularly in areas with large populations of German-Americans, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio.
The Böhnen surname is seldom found in other parts of the world, though there are small pockets of it in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Overall, however, the surname is relatively rare in comparison to other German surnames, such as Schmidt, Müller, and Fischer.
The Böhnen surname is also quite unique, as it is likely derived from a profession and is therefore an occupational surname. In the modern day, the surname is mainly found among descendants of German settlers and immigrants, but also among modern-day German natives, suggesting a long history and a possible connection with the Holy Roman Empire period.
Variations of the surname Böhnen
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Böhnen are Buchne, Bohne, Bohen, Boehnen, Bohenken, Boehn, Boenn, Boen, Ben, Benne, Peene, and Penn.
Böhnen is a German surname mostly found in the western parts of the country. It is derived from the Middle High German word "buhne," which meant “promontory” or “hill.” Thus, the surname is believed to have originally referred to someone living on a hill. The earliest record of any variant of the name in Germany is from a court record in 1489, in which a certain "Heydenreich der Buhne" (Heydenreich of the Hill) appears.
Buchne is one of the most widely-used variants of the surname. It is believed to have originated in the Westphalia region of Germany and has been in use since the Middle Ages. Bohen is a common spelling in Saxony and Berlin. Meanwhile, Boehnen and Bohenken are common variants found in northwestern Germany, while Boehn and Boenn are spellings found in Prussia.
The variants Ben, Benne, Peene and Penn are less widely-used today, but they are believed to have descended from the Böhnen family. The earliest record of any variant of the name in Prussia is from a 1568 court record in which a certain Jochim Penn appears. In many cases, the variants Ben, Benne, Peene and Penn have been used interchangeably with Böhnen in German records.
Famous people with the name Böhnen
- Ferdinand Böhnen (1852–1921), German botanist
- Laura Böhnen (1929-2018), German historian
- Luise Böhnen (1875-1931), German novelist
- Max Böhnen (1909-1974), German actor
- Klaus Böhnen (born 1967), German politician
- Jörg Böhnen (born 1967), German football player
- Hans Böhnen (born 1941), German actor
- Günter Böhnen (born 1953), German entrepreneur
- Karin Böhnen (born 1955), German author
- Manfred Böhnen (born 1966), German lawyer
- Anja Böhnen (born 1974), German artist
- Oskar Böhnen (1863-1933), German opera singer
- Bartel Böhnen (1872-1959), German architect
- Eva Böhnen (born 1930), German costume designer
- Johann Böhnen (born 1950), German sculptor
- Hildegard Böhnen (1919-2000), German theater actress
- Johannes Böhnen (born 1984), German footballer