Surname Böhnhold - Meaning and Origin
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Böhnhold: What does the surname Böhnhold mean?
The last name Böhnhold is of German origin and is derived from the Old German word “bön,” which means market share or trading. Thus, essentially, the Böhnhold name translates to “holder of the market share” or “holder of the trading rights.”
The name Böhnhold first appeared as a surname in the mid-1600s among German-speaking people living in the area that is now Bavaria, Germany. It is thought that this area was one of the first locations with whom the family was associated. The surname Böhnhold likely referred to a family of merchants, market traders, or brokers who owned or had the rights to a market share. This could mean that they had the right to operate a specific stand or stall in a local market, or to remain in a certain area of the market to ply their trade.
It is possible that the Böhnholds were a relatively well-off family within the local community at that time, as those who owned or had the rights to a market share usually earned more money than those who did not. They likely enjoyed significant influence and respect due to their wealth and success.
Today, there are many people throughout Germany who still bear the Böhnhold name. It is likely that these individuals still have great respect and admiration for their ancestors and the legacy they left behind, not only in terms of finances, but also in terms of entrepreneurship and ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhnhold: Where does the name Böhnhold come from?
The last name Böhnhold is most commonly found in the western part of Germany, specifically in the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saarland. It is also found in some parts of the Netherlands.
The earliest records of this name appear in Germany in the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the vicinity of the Brocken mountain range in the Harz region. Over time, the spelling of the name changed from Böhnhold, to Bohnehold, but eventually the original spelling was kept.
The name is believed to be a form of the word "boehen," which is derived from the Lower German word for fir tree or mountain spruce. This could indicate that its original bearer lived in an area with large stands of these trees. Alternatively, it could have originated from the German name "Bohlen," referring to a person who worked with building beams.
Today, the surname is still quite widespread in the Harz region, as well as around other areas of Germany. According to censuses taken in the year 2000, there were about 479 people in Germany alone who carried the Böhnhold surname.
Variations of the surname Böhnhold
The surname Böhnhold is of German origin and is found mainly in the western part of the country. It is a Patronymic name, derived from the father's given name. Variants of this name include Böhnholdt, Behnholt, Bohnhold, Böhmhold, Bohnholdt, Böhmholdt, Behnholt and similar variants.
The spelling of the surname Böhnhold is mainly seen in its original form. The suffix "-hold" in German means "protector, guardian, keeper of", a common way of naming someone in the medieval period. It is possible that the person bearing the name Böhnhold had once served as a protector or guard.
Variants of the surname Böhnhold are seen to include those with an additional "t" or "dt" at the end of the name, such as Böhnholdt, Behnholt, Böhmholdt and Behnholt. This is a common practice in German surnames whereby an additional "-t" or "-dt" is added for the possessive form.
Surnames that can be interpreted as having the same origin as Böhnhold include Bohnhold and Bohnholdt, without the German umlaut, and Böhmhold, which combines the element "-hold" with its alternative spelling, "-mhold".
Overall, Böhnhold and its variants have provided us a glimpse into the various ways surnames can be interpreted and manipulated to represent the same origin.
Famous people with the name Böhnhold
- Yannick Böhnhold, German professional footballer
- Mario Böhnhold, German deportation resistance activist
- Andrea Böhnhold, former alpine skier from Austria
- Stephan Böhnhold, a German semi-professional cyclist
- Haydyn Böhnhold, German photographer and filmmaker
- Eva Böhnhold, former German volleyball player
- Christian Böhnhold, a former German footballer
- Pierre Böhnhold, a former French judoka
- Dietmar Böhnhold, former German long-distance runner
- Christoph Böhnhold, a German judoka and the 2009 German Champion in his weight class