Surname Bohnstedt - Meaning and Origin
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Bohnstedt: What does the surname Bohnstedt mean?
The last name Bohnstedt (or Böhnstedt) is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word 'boehmstet', meaning "small village". This suggests that the first person to carry the name was likely a person from a small village or hamlet. It is also possible that those who adopted this surname were known to live "down below" in a geographical sense. The surname is most common in the central German states of Thuringia and Saxony.
Originally, the surname was written with the ö character, but over the centuries, the spelling has changed among various branches of the family. For example, the "ö" character is sometimes replaced with other letters such as oe, ae, or e.
The surname Bohnstedt is rarely found outside of Germany and is especially common in areas which were formerly part of East Germany. It is estimated that there are fewer than 500 people bearing this surname living outside of Germany.
Overall, the surname Bohnstedt is indicative of a Germanic past, with the names of those bearing it typically having originated from a small village. Due to its Germanic origin and roots in a small village, the name retains a certain level of local charm and is associated with rural life and rural community.
Order DNA origin analysisBohnstedt: Where does the name Bohnstedt come from?
The last name Bohnstedt is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It is less common in other parts of the world.
In Germany, the Bohnstedt name is found mainly in the west of the country, including the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It is most common in the state of Bavaria, which accounts for about 57% of all bearers of the Bohnstedt name in Germany.
Within Germany, the Bohnstedt name is mainly concentrated in two main areas: the Ruhr and the Harz Mountains. In Ruhr, it is a relatively common name that is found in cities such as Dortmund, Bochum, and Essen. In Harz, the Bohnstedt name can be found in towns such as Goslar and Wernigerode.
Elsewhere in Europe, the surname Bohnstedt can be found in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Poland, but these instances are much rarer than in Germany. The name is not particularly common in the United States either, although there have been some bearers of the name who have immigrated from Germany in the past.
Variations of the surname Bohnstedt
Bohnstedt is a patronymic surname, deriving from the Middle Low German name “Bohne” or “Bohn”. This surname is of Germanic origin, and originally referred to individuals who were descendants of somebody called Bohne or Bohn, the archaic words for “bean”.
Common variants of the surname Bohnstedt include Bohne-Stede, Bohn-Stette, Bohne-Stetter, Bohne-Staat, and Bohne-Statt. These names are all derived from the Middle Low German terms “stede” which translated to “place” or “seat”, “stette” which translates to “place of origin”, “staat” which means “state”, and “statt” meaning “place”.
Other surnames with the same origin as Bohnstedt include Benstead, Beestad, Bohnsack, Bonehead, Boonstra, Bennewitz, and Benninger.
The Benstead surname is derived from the Middle English word “ben”, meaning “bean”, and the old English word “stede”, meaning “settlement” or “place”.
The Beestad surname is derived from the old Dutch words “bee” and “stede”, which translates to “bean” and “place” respectively.
Bohnsack is a variation of Bohne-Stette, which is derived from the Middle Low German terms “bohne” and “stette”. This name translates to “bean” and “place of origin”.
The Bonehead surname is derived from the Middle English word “bene”, meaning “bean”, combined with the Old English word “had”, which translates to “head”.
The Boonstra surname is a Dutch variation of the name Bohnstedt, derived from the Middle Low German terms “bohne” and “straat”, which translates to “bean” and “road”.
The Bennewitz surname is derived from the Middle Low German words “bohne” and “witz”, which translates to “bean” and “place” respectively.
Lastly, the Benninger surname is a variation of Bohnstedt, and is derived from the Middle Low German terms “bohne” and “ingener”, which translates to “bean” and “in-laws” respectively.
Famous people with the name Bohnstedt
- Carol Bohnstedt: an American professor of Spanish and Hispanic Studies at the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures of Harvard University
- Hendrik Bohnstedt: a Dutch director and cinematographer
- Jim Bohnstedt: the former CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Julianna Bohnstedt: an American actress
- Margarete Bohnstedt- a German costume designer
- Mark Bohnstedt: an American former college football player
- Paul Bohnstedt: an American television showrunner
- Peter Bohnstedt: a Finnish theatre director
- Sam Bohnstedt: a former New Zealand marathon runner
- Thomas Bohnstedt: a German composer and musician