Surname Böhnhard - Meaning and Origin
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Böhnhard: What does the surname Böhnhard mean?
The last name Böhnhard is of German origin, and it's a patronymic surname that was derived from the given name "Boehme", which is a German variant of the Hebrew name "Böhme". The surname likely first originated in the Middle Ages as a result of Christianization of the German-speaking people, when seeing a need to differentiate between two similarly named people, one of whom was a Christian convert.
The literal meaning of Böhnhard is “son of Boehme”. It is a common surname for those living in the German-speaking countries. It is also extremely widespread in countries that are former territories of the German Empire, such as Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Böhnhard surname has many variants, such as Böhnhardt, Böhme, Böhning, Böhnlein, Bohn, Böhmer, Böhmhard, Böhnacker, Böhner and Böhninger.
The Böhnhard surname might indicate that a person's ancestor was of a rural background, for there is a village in Germany called Böhnhard, located in the Hessen region of the country. It is possible that an individual with the surname Böhnhard may have descended from a long line of people who lived in the town of Böhnhard.
Overall, the surname Böhnhard indicates a person who may have had German ancestry and it might point to a rural background.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhnhard: Where does the name Böhnhard come from?
The last name Böhnhard is commonly found across Europe today, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
In Germany, the name is fairly widespread, with many families bearing the name. It can be found most notably in the southwest of Germany, especially in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. There is also a notable presence in Berlin and other urban areas in the north.
Austria has a high concentration of the name, particularly in the states of Vienna and Upper Austria. In the Czech Republic, families bearing the name can be found primarily in the Moravian and Silesian regions.
In Switzerland, the Böhnhard last name is particularly common in the German-speaking cantons, such as Zurich, Bern, and Basel-City. There are also a few families in the Italian-speaking cantons, mainly in the Ticino region.
Despite its frequent occurrence in Europe today, the origin of the Böhnhard name is uncertain. One popular theory suggests that the last name is a combination of the Middle High German names 'Beinhard' or 'Benehhart', implying hard or brave. Ultimately, the exact origin remains a mystery.
Variations of the surname Böhnhard
The surname Böhnhard is of German origin and can be spelt in various ways. Some common spelling variations include Bohnhardt, Bohmhard, Bohhardt, Böhmhart, Böhmhardt, Boehhardt, Böhhardt, Böhmharter, Böhmhärter, Böhmer, Bohmharter, Bohmhärter, Boehmer, Bohmer, and Böhm.
Surnames of the same origin include Baumann, Boenning, Bonning, Böning, Büning, Bunning, Büchner, Buchner, Böttcher, Botter, Bottcher, Botcher, Botticher, and Böttinger.
It was not unusual for a single person to start using a variety of different spellings over time, leading to the development of different surnames that all trace back to the same origins. For example, an immigrant from Germany, when settling in America, could have their name spelled differently to suit the American pronunciation of his name, leading to the birth of a new surname.
Another example would be merging two surnames together, such as a husband and wife sharing both of their last names after marriage. It was also common for people to adopt the surnames of their landlords during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
In some cases, people simply adopted a new surname, either because they disliked or wanted to distance themselves from the original, or simply wanted to feel included in their new society. While the surname Böhnhard has several variations, each one is linked to the same family history.
Famous people with the name Böhnhard
- Anita Böhnhard: German vocalist and composer.
- Christian Böhnhard: first solo trumpeter for the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and a professor of trumpet at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich.
- Carola Böhnhardt: German sound engineer and tv producer
- Christiane Böhnhardt: German art historian
- Ernst Böhnhard: German organist, choirmaster, and composer
- Felix Maria Böhnhard: German dermatologist and research scientist
- Joshua Böhnhard: German singer-songwriter
- Matthias Böhnhard: German politician and member of the German Bundestag
- Maximilian Böhnhard: German actor
- Michael Böhnhard: German comedian
- Paul Böhnhard: German doctor of philosophy and professor at the University of Berlin