Surname Bokar - Meaning and Origin

Bokar: What does the surname Bokar mean?

The surname Bokar (also spelled Boukar, Boucar,and other variations) is a toponymic surname derived from the French village of Bouquehault in the Somme department of northern France. Historically, the surname was given to people who originated from the village.

The root of the surname Bokar (and its variants) is from the old French word “boc”, which means “beech”, and “hard,” an old French term that denoted a origin or a person who hailed from a place of strong and established trees. This likely refers to the region’s dense beech forests. Bouquehault is a small village even today, so it’s likely that many of the people who bore the “Bokar” surname, such as the many immigrants from the region who moved around Europe in the 19th century, may have origins that reach back to the same place.

The surname Bokar is especially popular in Poland, where it is believed to have been brought by immigrants in the 19th century. It is still common in some parts of Poland, especially around Poznań in western Poland.

Bokar is also prevalent in other parts of Europe, due to the migratory patterns which have characterized the French people for centuries. People bearing the Bokar name can be found in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Canada, and the United States.

The word “bokar” can also bring to mind the Bosnian term “bokar”, which translates to “hero” or “patriot”. Indeed, people bearing the Bokar surname are often proud of its connection to their Bosnian heritage and have strived to live their lives according to this ideal.

Bokar: Where does the name Bokar come from?

The last name Bokar is most commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Balkan countries. It is believed to derive from 'bokar' which means blacksmith in Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian. The surname is found in other Slavic countries such as Slovenia, Poland, and Ukraine. The majority of people with the surname Bokar are found in the villages and towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in the capital Sarajevo.

In the United States, Bokar can also be found among immigrants coming from the Balkans, specifically those of Bosnian Rothschilian, Herzegovinian, and Croatian descent. As of 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau states that there were just over 77,000 people with the last name Bokar living in the United States. Many of these people can be found in urban areas such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.

According to recent research, the Bokar family is relatively small compared to others of similar origin. Despite this, the family appears to have a strong presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the United States. It is likely that the family will continue to spread and grow in different countries as members of the Bokar family move and settle around the world in search of better opportunities and a brighter future.

Variations of the surname Bokar

The surname Bokar has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Bokar is a Polish-Jewish surname which can also be spelled Bochar, Bokarz, and Bokarowicz. The German and Yiddish variants are Bocker and Bucker. The Ukrainian and Russian variants are Bukar and Bukarev. The Belarusan variant is Bukarau. It might also appear as Bokarowsky, or Bokar Stein.

The origin of surnames such as Bokar stems from the nicknames given to people based on physical characteristics or other traits, like a person's occupation. In this case, the nickname “Bokar” comes from the Polish word for “ax,” suggesting that the original bearer of the name may have worked as a woodsman or an axeman.

In addition to the different spelling and surname variants of Bokar, there are also spelling variants of individual letters. For example, Bokar may also be spelled Bőkar in Hungarian, Bôkar in Slovakia, Bòkar in Czech, Bôkar in Slovenia, Bökar in Sweden, Bökar in Finland, and Boëkar in the Netherlands.

Despite the various spellings, surnames with the root word “bokar” all ultimately trace back to the same Polish name origin. Each variant contains a reminder of the original meaning of the name, and each variation has its own unique history and connection to its ancestral homeland.

Famous people with the name Bokar

• Enzo Bokar: French singer-songwriter, producer, and actor.
• Lunda Bokar Ould Ebnou: Mauritanian politician who served as Prime Minister of Mauritania.
• Sierra Bokar: American model based in Las Vegas.
• Seydou Bokar Keita: Malian politician and diplomat who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Mali from 1992 to 1993.
• Wassim Bokar: Algerian footballer who played as a defender for USM Alger.
• Abdelghani Bokar Boubacar: Algerian footballer who played as a midfielder for MC Alger.
• Antho Bokar Tchantcho: Gabonese footballer who plays as a forward for Cercle Mbéri Sportif.
• Yal Ahamat Bokar: Ivorian footballer who plays as a midfielder for KV Ostend.
• Adomina Bokar Bawl: Gambian footballer who played as a striker for Steve Biko F.C..
• Roki Bokar: Kosovar Albanian rapper and singer.

Other surnames

Bökamp