Surname Bonifatius - Meaning and Origin
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Bonifatius: What does the surname Bonifatius mean?
The last name Bonifatius is of Italian origin. Meaning “good fortune,” the surname is derived from the Latin word bonifatius, which translates to “lucky” or “auspicious”. It is believed that the surname originated in the Middle Ages, when Italian families used patronymic names to signify where they hailed from. In this instance, it is likely that the forebears of those who now bear the surname Bonifatius were lucky and fortunate— an apt description of their character or accomplishments.
Throughout its many uses as a family name throughout the centuries, Bonifatius has maintained its meaning of a fortunate household. Its variations— such as Bonifacio or Bonifazi— have been used to honor a lucky lineage, while its Italian dialect forms— such as Bonifaci or Bonifacino— have celebrated a lucky ancestor.
As the meaning of the name implies, those who bear the surname Bonifatius have been known to be lucky, in both small and large ways. Examples include the Italian “Blessed Bonifatius,” who received two papal bulls in the thirteenth century, and the Italian wine being made today from the Holly “Holy Good Fortune” grapes after a fortunate event happened to the Bonifatius family in 1520.
In essence, the surname Bonifatius is a celebration of fortune— an accurate description of its bearers’ fortunate past, present, and future.
Order DNA origin analysisBonifatius: Where does the name Bonifatius come from?
The last name Bonifatius is most commonly found in Europe, primarily in Germany and Italy. In modern times, it is an uncommon last name, with most people bearing the Bonifatius surname living in Germany. Bonifatius is derived from the Latin word "bonifatius,” meaning "good fortune.”
In Germany, Bonifatius can be traced back to the Middle Ages when it was one of the first patronyms, or surnames based off of a given name, to be used to distinguish people in public records. The Bonifatius surname has since spread to various parts of Europe, including Italy and the Netherlands.
In Italy, Bonifatius is the fourth-most popular surname in Salerno, a major city in southern Italy. It is also found in cities such as Naples, Bologna, and Rome, although its presence is much smaller here than in Salerno. The last name is very common in some smaller Italian regions as well, most notably Molise and Basilicata.
In the Netherlands, Bonifatius is an uncommon surname, found mainly in the southern parts of the country. The Dutch version of the surname is often written as "Bonifatius” or "Bonifacius,” stemming from the original Latin form.
In the United States, Bonifatius is a rare surname, only represented in 0.0001% of the population. It is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, where the majority of its current bearers reside.
Overall, Bonifatius is most common in Germany and is found in more than a dozen Italian cities, although the surname remains much less popular than it was centuries ago. It is rare in the Netherlands and United States, primarily found in areas that are home to members of the original German or Italian branches of the Bonifatius family.
Variations of the surname Bonifatius
The surname Bonifatius is derived from the Latin given name Bonifatius, which is the Latinized form of a Germanic name. The name can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Bonifacio, Bonifacius, Bonifaz, Bonifazio, and Bonifácio. The surname and given name are also commonly seen spelled and pronounced Boniface.
Bonifatius is known to be a patronymic surname, which is a type of surname formed from a father's given name. Such names are very common, and often have different spellings. Some variations of the Bonifatius surname are Bonafacio, Boniface, Bonifas, Bonhé, Bonheur, Bonifasius, Bonifazio, Bonifazi, Bonifazius, Fato, Fortazio, and Faso.
The Bonifatius surname is also common among other countries with close ties to Italy, such as Spain and Portugal, where the surname is variously spelled, such as Bonifacio and Bonifazio. The surname can be found among other Latin American countries, as well, spelled either Bonifacio or Bonifazio.
In addition to the variations, Bonifatius is often seen in combination with other single-syllable names to create a hybrid surnames. One of the more common bilinear combinations is Bonifacio-Martinez, spelled Bonifazio-Martinez or Bonifácio-Martinez. Bonifatius can also be seen as part of a tri-linear hybrid surname, such as Bonifazio-Toledo-Martinez.
The Bonifatius surname has been used as a last name in various other languages, such as Bójfasz in Hungarian, Bonifacijus in Lithuanian, and Bonefazii in Romanian. It is also frequently used as an Italian given name, which is typically abbreviated to either Bonifacio or Fazio.
Famous people with the name Bonifatius
- Saint Boniface (circa 675-754), originally known as Winfrid, was a Benedictine monk and an important figure in the conversion of the Germanic peoples to Christianity. He is known as the “Apostle of the Germans”.
- Dr. August Bonifatius (1955–2018, also known as "Gus"), was a German-born American Catholic priest, spiritual adviser and exorcist.
- Fabian Bonifatius (born 1990), is a German singer-songwriter known for his work in the alternative rock genre.
- Maximilian Bonifatius (2020–present), is an aspiring German musician who has released several self-produced tracks and is working to launch his debut album.
- Ellen Bonifatius (born 1965), a German novelist whose works have earned her the “International Prix des Droits de l’Être / Prize for Human Rights”.
- Magdalena Bonifatius (born 1982), a German politician and member of the without prejudice party who ran for the Bundestag in 2013.
- Christian Bonifatius (born 1987), a German media entrepreneur who founded and runs Bonify GmbH, a marketing agency.
- Jakob Bonifatius (born 2002), an aspiring German footballer who currently plays for Bayern Munich’s youth team.