Surname Bongart - Meaning and Origin
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Bongart: What does the surname Bongart mean?
The last name Bongart is of German origin, originating from a place name in what is now the northern Rhineland in Germany. This place name was composed of two elements: the Old High German “bungo” meaning wall, and “hard” meaning hard or firm. Its various forms, including Bongard, Bonghard, and Bonhard, are all believed to refer to various individuals who lived near a strong defensive wall.
The Bongart family is quite old, with records suggesting its members have been present in Germany since at least the 13th century, when the family was involved in local government service in the Erft river valley. The family enjoyed the privileges of noble rank and occupied prestigious positions, including one in the court of the Duke of Julich-Cleve-Berg.
By the beginning of the 17th century, the family had spread to other parts of Germany as well as the American colonies. Among them were Hans George Bongart, who arrived in Savannah, Georgia in 1739. However, the Great War drastically changed the fortunes of the Bongart family, as many of its members either perished in the war or were forced to flee their homeland.
Today, this family name is scattered around the world, with its members living in countries like the United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. Although divided by geography and spread across generations, Bongarts remain characterized by strong will, integrity, and a deep-rooted love for their home and family.
Order DNA origin analysisBongart: Where does the name Bongart come from?
The last name Bongart is found in many countries around the world. This surname is most commonly found in Germany, where it ranks 483rd in popularity. The name originated in Northern Germany and is thought to be of Slavic or Prussian origin. It is also found in Austria, where many immigrants from Germany settled in the 19th and 20th centuries. The name is also scattered throughout Scandinavia, particularly Sweden, as well as in Spanish-speaking countries like Spain and Argentina. Immigrants to these countries likely carried the surname with them when they left Germany.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, with most of those people being descendants of German immigrants. There is also a concentration of Bongarts in Ohio, another state populated by immigrants from Germany. The surname remains uncommon, however, indicating that the families may have been small to begin with or that there have not been as many more recent immigrants with that name.
Outside of Europe, the last name Bongart is found in Japan, where there is a sizable population of Bongarts living in Sapporo, the capital of the Hokkaido prefecture. This likely indicates that a group of Bongarts immigrated to Japan after World War II.
Overall, the last name Bongart is scattered throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan, with different branches of the family likely descending from different points of origin.
Variations of the surname Bongart
The surname Bongart is of Germanic origin and has a variety of spellings and surname variants. In the United States, the surname is most often found spelled as Bongardt, Bongard, Bongartz or Bonghardt. In Germany, other variations of the surname include Bongartz, Bonghard, Bongart, Bangart, Bongard, Bonghardt, Bongardth, and Bongardi.
Related surname variants can also be found in other countries, including the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Poland – such as Bongaard, Bongaart, Bongaards, Bongaardt, and Bongert. In the United Kingdom, variants of the surname include Bongart, Bongardon, Bongard, Bongardi, Bongart, Bongards and Bonghard.
The common ancestry of these surname variants can be further explored by looking at the ancestral phonetic pronunciation which has become more distinct due to the regional dialects of different countries. In its simplest form, the surname has a "G" sound and often has an "ow" or "eh" sound before the "G", such as "boh-gart" or "boong-gart".
The Bongart surname is thought to have first been used by a family of noble birth during the 13th century in a part of what is now the Netherlands. The Bongart family were originally from Germany and thought to have moved to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution. Over time, family members spread to other parts of Europe, including the Czech Republic, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Variants of the surname have also been found in the United States.
Famous people with the name Bongart
- Anna Bongart: Belarusian hurdler and middle-distance runner
- Daniel Bongart: Belgian cyclist
- Dennis Bongartz: German football manager and former player
- Elgine Bongar: Turkish female football player
- Ferdinand Bongartz: German doctor and biologist
- Francine Bongartz: German singer
- Gerrit Bongar: American landscape painter
- Jacob Bongart: Dutch sculptor
- Jean Pierre Bongart: Congolese Army General
- Jürgen Bongartz: German composer
- Kelsey Bongart: American swimmer
- Lance Bongart: Austrian diver
- Lars Bongartz: German soccer coach
- Marina Bongartz: German fashion designer
- Mike Bongartz: German soccer player
- Nick Bongart: Canadian professional skier
- Oscar Bongar: Turkish professional soccer player
- Peter Bongartz: German politician
- Peter Jay Bongart: American civil rights lawyer
- Rachel Bongart: Canadian professional snowboarder