Surname Bongard - Meaning and Origin
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Bongard: What does the surname Bongard mean?
The last name Bongard is of Dutch origin and is believed to be derived from the word ‘Bongaert’. This is a combination of the words ‘bong’, meaning marshland, and ‘aert’, meaning channel. The name is likely to have been taken from a location near a marsh, indicating that the family was likely farmers or landholders.
The earliest records of the surname date back to the 14th century when snet Bongard was living in the Dutch town of Hoogwoud. It was also mentioned in the court records of Nijmegen in 1553. In the 19th century the name was carried to various locations all over the Netherlands.
The surname Bongard has also become established in other parts of the world. It was introduced to America by immigrant families, primarily from the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is also found in Canada and Australia.
The meaning behind the surname Bongard offers an insight into the origins of the family itself. The name might be indicative of a life spent close to a marsh – a clue to the ancestral practices and way of life of this long-standing Dutch family.
Order DNA origin analysisBongard: Where does the name Bongard come from?
The last name Bongard is most commonly found in France and other French-speaking regions such as Belgium, Canada, and Switzerland. Particularly in France, its distribution was most concentrated in the Alsace region near the German border as well as in the Paris region and then in smaller numbers in rural areas. The Bongard name is believed to have derived from several Middle German words meaning "protection" and "protector". It is widely speculated that the name was first used by people living in a protective settlement, possibly described as a "guard home".
In the US, immigration records suggest that the Bongard family name came to the US at the start of the 19th century. They settled mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly in Pennsylvania and New York, and then in the Midwest states such as Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. However, other variants of the name including Bongartz, Bongardt and Vonbongard are also found throughout the US today.
The name Bongard is still quite popular in France, as well as in its adopted countries and regions. According to genealogical records, the name has over 18,000 carries in France today, with concentrated populations in Paris, Alsace-Lorraine, and Silésie. The name remains widely spread throughout the rest of Europe, North America, South America and international locations such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Bongard
The surname Bongard originates from Germany and is derived from the name of a town, Bangard. It is a common and ancient name whose variants include Pongratz, Pongrat, and Pongartz, as well as Pungerl and Poengrat.
The spelling Bongard is the most common variant, and is a direct spelling of the name of the town of Bangard. Other variants include artists such as Benjamin Van Bongard, and Harry Bongard.
The surname Van Bongard can be found in Canada and the United States. The spelling Bongardy is also commonly encountered, with its French variant Bongard being found in culture and society. Bongard may also be encountered with its Dutch spelling, Bonkaard.
In Germany, the variants are often seen by the spelling Bongartz and Bongart. Variants sometimes seen are Bongarts, Bongardt, and Bongards. The surname Bonhard, with another spelling of Bongard, can often be seen. In addition, Boegard, Boaard, and Boenyard, are forms which may also be seen.
It is also important to note that Bongard is a multinational surname also found in Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. It is recorded in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway in Nordic regions and Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia in the Balkans.
In conclusion, Bongard as a surname has plenty of variants found all over the world, with each having its own localized variation of spelling.
Famous people with the name Bongard
- Heike Bongard, German politician
- Philip Bongard, Australian actor
- Marlena Bongard, Czech film producer
- Bernard Bongard, French basketball player
- Jean-Louis Bongard, French composer
- Antje Bongard, German entrepreneur
- Terrance Bongard, American photographer
- Kaya Bongard, American author
- Martin Bongard, British electrical engineer
- Thierry Bongard, Swiss rugby union player
- Marcel Bongard, French Olympic athlete
- Bruno Bongard, German triathlete
- Christian Bongard, Luxembourgian racecar driver
- François Bongard, Dutch theater producer