Surname Bohning - Meaning and Origin
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Bohning: What does the surname Bohning mean?
The last name Bohning is an old German surname of noble origin. It derives from the Middle High German word “boning”, meaning “high-ranking” or “noble”. The earliest known bearer of this surname was Werner von Boning, who lived in the geographical area of Lubeck in the year 1368.
The Bohning surname is also connected to certain places and regions of Germany, such as the area near the town of Lage in Westphalia and the old house of Bohning near the town of Mansfeld. The Bohning family has a long history in Germany, going back hundreds of years. The family is believed to have been an old and influential clan with considerable holdings in the region and many connections to the higher nobility.
Today, the Bohning name is still quite common in Germany, especially in the area of Lage. It’s also fairly widespread throughout North America, especially the USA, where many of the original German Bohning families emigrated to escape religious and political persecution at home.
Given its noble origins, the Bohning surname is associated with honor, pride, and respect. This may explain why it is still so popular today, even centuries after its original use in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisBohning: Where does the name Bohning come from?
The last name Bohning is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the former Prussian Province of Prussia.
In 2020, the most Bohning’s were found in Germany, specifically in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. In addition, there are Bohning's in Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States, Netherlands, Poland, Canada, and France.
Within the US, Bohning's can be found in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Connecticut, Washington, and Minnesota. The number of Bohning’s in the US is growing each year.
In terms of origin, the name is believed to have originated in the historically German region of Prussia. It is thought to mean either 'ready for war' living near a marshy area, or 'courageous and enterprising' of the same origin.
The jog of Bohning has also seen a surge in popularity as a first name, with many parents naming their son Bohning or variations like Boning or Bonning. Recently, it has started to be adopted as a surname as well.
So while the name is still most popular in Germany and its surrounding countries, Bohning has seen a growth in popularity all over the globe.
Variations of the surname Bohning
The Bohning surname is of German origin, and can be found in a variety of spellings throughout many countries in Europe. The most common versions include Bohning, Bohnig, Behning, and Böhning. Lesser known versions include Behnig, Bohniger, Bohnik, and Bohnich.
In Germany, Bohning is most common in the western states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In the English-speaking world, the surname is usually found spelled as Bohning, although occasionally Bohnig, and Behning are encountered.
Throughout history, the Bohning family name has become associated with nobility in some European countries. The Bohnings are members of the Dutch nobility in Amsterdam, and the Bohning clan in Switzerland is among the oldest families in the country.
The Bohning surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, and in the United States. It can be found throughout Europe and in other parts of the world, where immigrants with the surname have settled.
Famous people with the name Bohning
- Stan Bohning: American sprinter, who set the world record for the 200 metre sprint in 1951 and competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- Dagmar Bohning: German mathematician, specialist in number theory.
- Alex Bohning: Former professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Ted Bohning: American sports cartoonist who drew sports cartoons for newspapers, magazines, and websites.
- Bill Bohning: American sportswriter. He covered the 1969-70 ice hockey championships for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and The Sporting News.
- Harry Bohning: Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for four teams over the course of five seasons from 1925 to 1932.
- Lindsey Boening: Professional javelin thrower, who represented the United States at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics.
- Carl Bohning: American ring announcer for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
- Harold Bohning: Racing driver who competed in the Indianapolis 500.
- Charles Bohning: Astronomer and head of the Illinois Wesleyan Observatory, known for his studies on double stars and the galactic structure.