Surname Böhnle - Meaning and Origin
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Böhnle: What does the surname Böhnle mean?
The surname Böhnle is of German origin. The name is derived from a location - specifically, the Böhnle, near the village of Oberbessenbach, in central Bavaria. The original meaning of the name is unknown, however, it is believed that it could derive from the Old High German "büen," meaning "to inhabit," or could be based on the word "Büehne," meaning "stage," since the area was home to a popular theatre in medieval times.
The name can be found in records dating back to the twelfth century. It most likely denote a family that lived or owned land near the Böhnle area. The earliest public records of those with the surname show it being used by two brothers, Leupold and Ebersol Böhnle, in 1380. Since then, the name has spread across Europe and is found in places such as France, Scotland, Sweden, Australia, and the United States.
Over time, variants of the Böhnle surname have developed. These include Behnle, Bohl, Behle, Bohnl, and Bohnell. All these forms are related, and generally refer to a person living or having family ties to the Böhnle area. In addition, there are a few sub-types of the surname, including Boehnle, Bohnle-Eisenmann, and Bohnlein.
As more families emigrated to locations far from the original Böhnle region, variations of the name have increased further. A common modern variation is Böhnlein, which is used in the USA and Canada. The fact that the name is found across Europe, Africa, and the Americas is testament to the family’s remarkable journey over several centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhnle: Where does the name Böhnle come from?
The last name Böhnle is most commonly associated today with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is thought to be a variation of the last name Bohn, which is also derived from a Germanic language. In Germany, the surname Böhnle is found mainly in its southern and eastern regions, but is common throughout the country. In Austria, the name is mainly concentrated around the Wine Road and the Danube region. In Switzerland, Böhnle is mainly distributed in the canton of St. Gallen.
The last name Böhnle is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, derived from a variant of the German word “Bein” which means “bone”. It was used to describe someone who was physically strong or healthy, and was often associated with physical activity. Over time, the spelling of this surname changed to Böhnle.
In modern times, the name Böhnle is still fairly popular. It ranks among the top 5,000 surnames in Germany, and within the top 3,000 in both Austria and Switzerland. It is also known to have spread to other countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but generally has a lower frequency.
Because of its old roots and prevalence in modern times, the last name Böhnle is an important and interesting part of genealogical research. It is an important reminder of a family’s past, and is an interesting piece of history that helps to tell family stories.
Variations of the surname Böhnle
The surname Böhnle has a variety of different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling variations of the name are Bohnle, Bohnle, Boehnle, Boehnlein, Buhnle, Buhnlein, Buhnl, Bohnla, and Buhnlau. Each of these names has a slightly different spelling or progenitor.
The original spelling of the name Böhnle is believed to have originated from middle high German. The name likely evolved from “buhnel”, which means “smaller town”, and “buhne”, which means “lowlands”.
The surname Böhnle is associated with several different branches of a family in different countries. These branches include the German, Swiss, and Dutch branches of the family. In Germany, the family was found mainly in Württemberg, Bavaria and Baden. In the Netherlands, the family was found in the Dutch province of Limburg.
The surname Böhnle is also found as a combination of other surnames. For instance, Böhnle-Diedrich or Böhnle-Apel are both surnames of the same origin.
Overall, the surname Böhnle has a variety of different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The name has likely evolved from “buhnel” or “buhne” in middle high German, and the name can also be found in combination with other surnames in Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Böhnle
- Eva Böhnle: politician with the German Christian Democratic Union
- Georg Böhnle: German cabinet maker in the 1600s
- Fritz Böhnle: German composer who wrote the score for "The Nibelungen”, a silent feature film
- Margarete Böhnle: German long-distance swimmer and Olympic gold medalist
- Edmund Böhnle: German Olympic sailor in the 1928 and 1932 Games
- Erich Böhnle: German plane builder and earliest organ builder in the 1800s
- Hans-Peter Böhnle: German actor, director, and theatre director
- Karl-Heinz Böhnle: German fashion designer, restaurateur, and real estate developer
- Claus Böhnle: German lawyer and politician
- Alexander Böhnle: German physicist and founder of the Ernest Böhnle Institute
- Luise Böhnle: German opera singer and vocal instructor
- Kurt Böhnle: German composer and laureate of the Mozart Prize