Surname Bolken - Meaning and Origin
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Bolken: What does the surname Bolken mean?
The last name Bolken is of Dutch origin, meaning that it comes from the Netherlands. It is an occupational name for someone that made a living by selling clogs. The English spelling of the name is Bullen, suggesting an Anglo-Saxon heritage.
The surname Bolken roots back to the Middle Ages when the making of clogs was significant for the Dutch. Clogs were popular shoes and the artisans who crafted them were held in high regard. The surname Bolken is derived from the words ‘bole’, meaning log of wood, and ‘beroker’, which refers to the clog seller. Thus, the surname suggests that a person with this name was a peddler of wooden footwear.
The Dutch immigration to America has resulted in a massive presence of the name Bolken across the United States. The name has been adopted and adapted to fit the American pronunciation, with modern variations of the name including Bolken, Bowlen, Bullen, and Bulen.
Descendants of the name Bolken might also be found in countries like Germany, France, and parts of Scandinavia, where the idea of clog-making has also been historically significant. The Dutch version of the name is the most common version found around the world with other variations of the surname popping up in localized clusters.
The Bolken name is a reminder of a traditional piece of Dutch culture that has since traveled around the world. It is a proud symbol of Dutch ingenuity and craftsmanship that has been applauded for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisBolken: Where does the name Bolken come from?
The last name Bolken is mostly associated with Denmark in Northern Europe. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many people with the last name Bolken migrated from Denmark to other parts of Europe, and more rarely to North America and other locations.
Today, many people with the surname Bolken can be found in Scandinavian countries. In Denmark, the surname is among the 150 most common family names. As of 2019, there are roughly 2,140 people with the surname living in Denmark, according to the Denmark Population Register.
The surname is also common in Norway. It appears among the 200 most popular surnames in the country. As of 2013, there were 2,233 people in Norway with the last name Bolken.
In Sweden, the surname is not particularly common, but still appears among the 1,000 most popular family names. There were 867 people with the surname Bolken in Sweden as of 2017.
Outside of Scandinavia, the last name Bolken is uncommon. It is rarely found in Germany, the United States, and other locations. Its distribution is largely concentrated in the Nordic countries.
Variations of the surname Bolken
The Bolken surname is of Dutch origin, most commonly spelled Boelken or Boelkins. It is an occupational name derived from the Old Dutch words 'buol' and 'ken', which mean 'cattle keeper'. People with this surname were originally employed by wealthy landowners as cattle herders.
Variations of the surname Bolken can be found around the world, such as in Britain, United States, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. Other variations of the surname include Bolkan, Bulkin, Bulken, Bulkan, Boelkan, Boelken, Baleken and Buelken.
In America, variations of the surname Bolken are more common, such as Boelkins, Bochin and Bolkin.
In Britain, the Bolken surname is most commonly found in the northwest of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
In Germany, variants of the surname Bolken are most commonly spelled Boelke and also Boelk, and are mainly found in the northwest Schleswig-Holstein region.
In Sweden, variations of Bolken are Bolkin and Bolke and are most commonly found in the southern regions of the country.
In Austria, the variation Boelker is most common, while in Belgium and Denmark, variations include Boelke, Boelkens and Boelk.
It is also possible to find variations of the surname Bolken in other countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Romania.
Famous people with the name Bolken
- Stig Bolken, celebrated Swedish track and field athlete
- Joachim Bolken, filmmaker and famous documentary director
- Barbara Bolken, award-winning Broadway actress and singer
- Markus Bolken, a renowned German scientist
- Jeo Bolken, a Dutch-born aviator and world-famous stunt pilot
- Kaden Bolken, a successful surfing sportsman and reality television star
- Anna Bolken, a Bavarian-born Polka music singer
- Agneta Bolken, celebrated Swedish children’s author
- Efraim Bolken, the democratic politician and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
- Ingvar Bolken, a popular rock musician from Sweden