Surname Bohnig - Meaning and Origin
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Bohnig: What does the surname Bohnig mean?
The last name Bohnig is of German origin. It is a habitational name derived from a place called Bohnig, which is located in the Hesse region of Germany. The name is thought to be derived from the German word 'buhne', meaning 'workbench'. It is therefore conceivable that the surname originated with someone who lived near, or worked in, a place with this name.
Bohnig is most common in German-speaking areas, such as in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and other countries with German immigrants.
The name Bohnig is derived from the words “buhe” (“workbench”) and “neig” (“near”). This indicates that the original bearer of this surname lived near a workbench or held a profession involving the use of a workbench, such as carpentry, metalworking, or blacksmithing. These days, of course, the name is used by individuals who have not necessarily followed these professions, but for many people it speaks to a hardworking and industrious heritage.
People with the Bohnig surname have often been defined by their drive to work hard and produce quality goods for their customers. They could be relied upon to provide services in a reliable, efficient, and trustworthy manner. For the original holders of this name, this was undoubtedly a very useful quality. Even today, it is likely that the name Bohnig carries a similar connotation of hard work, dedication, and trustworthiness.
Order DNA origin analysisBohnig: Where does the name Bohnig come from?
The last name Bohnig is most commonly found today in Germany. It first surfaced in the historic East Prussian region, before spreading out from there into various other parts of Europe. In 2005, Bohnig was the 12th most popular surname in Germany, where it is most commonly concentrated in the Bavarian region. It has also seen increased prevalence in the United States after large numbers of German immigrants arrived during the 1800s. Today, it is estimated that there are about 18,000 people in the US with the Bohnig surname. The majority of Bohnig families in America are still found in the Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Outside of Germany, smaller populations of Bohnig can also be found in other parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Variations of the surname Bohnig
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Bohnig are Bohnige, Bohnigge, Bohniger, Bohnigheim and Bohnnig. The surname Bohnig is a German-origin name, which can be traced back to the Old High German name 'bunnin' and is likely derived from a diminutive of 'bonn', which was an archaic term for a legal boundary during the Middle Ages.
The term might also possibly have derived from a binsen plant, which is an aquatic plant. This plant was an important material in the early history of Germany, so it is plausible that it was used in some manner to indicate lineage. As such, later generations adopted the name as their surname.
The alternate spellings of the surname might have varied over the centuries, in certain dialects of German, and these variants are likely the descendants of early variations of the surname. For instance, Bohnigge might have evolved from Bunnin or Bunnige, and Bohnigheim might have evolved from Bunnigheim, due to certain environment related specific pronunciation of consonants and frequent umlauting.
Variations of the surname can also be seen in other parts of Germany that were heavily populated with German-speaking immigrants during the Middle Ages. For instance, the surname Bohnig might be prevalent in regions of Poland and Eastern Europe that were formerly part of the German-speaking Hanseatic League.
In sum, the surname Bohnig is common throughout areas of Germany and its associated diaspora, with variants such as Bohnige, Bohnigge, Bohniger, Bohnigheim and Bohnnig being prominent throughout these areas.
Famous people with the name Bohnig
- Allie Bohnig: American actress
- Max Bohnig: German football forward
- Rich Bohnig: television producer
- Asha Bohnig: radio host
- Sam Bohnig: cinematographer
- Jenni Bohnig: fine art painter
- Jeremy Bohnig: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Victoria Bohnig: violinist
- Wes Bohnig: professional NBA referee
- Matthew Bohnig: actor, director, and producer