Surname Börger - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Börger: What does the surname Börger mean?
The surname Börger is a German and Dutch surname derived from the old Germanic words "burg" and "heri," which mean fortress and army, respectively. This surname was likely assumed by someone who was either a military leader or was associated with a fortified area. It is also thought to have been taken by someone who was connected to a city or stronghold.
The Börger surname generally had the same meaning in Germany and the Netherlands, but the spelling differed slightly in each country. In Germany, it was spelled Börger or Börger, whereas in the Netherlands it was spelled Boerger or Boerger. In German-speaking areas, the name is also associated with pastry makers who sold small cakes known as Börger.
A well-known German bearer of the name was the 19th-century mathematician Karl Börger, whose works touched on topics such as thermodynamics, the calculus of variations, and the theory of waves. Another notable name-bearer was the Dutch television presenter Jan Boerger, who passed away in 2007.
Today, the Börger surname is still quite common in Germany and the Netherlands. However, it is also present in many countries around the world due to immigration and emigration. As such, the Börger family can be found in Canada, the United States, Australia, and other countries.
Order DNA origin analysisBörger: Where does the name Börger come from?
The last name Börger is largely concentrated around Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, it tends to be more common in the western-central region of North Rhine-Westphalia, but is also found in other states throughout the country. In the Netherlands, it is thought to be more common amongst the Frisian people of the country's northern-most regions.
The surname is also found in small numbers across other parts of Europe, such as Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, and Austria, and further afield in places like the United States and Canada. In the United States, Börger is particularly common in areas with large concentrations of people of German and Dutch heritage, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
It is thought that the surname Börger is derived from a Germanic personal name, 'Burgar', which means 'protection'. The most popular meaning suggested for this name is 'guardian of the castle'. This is supported by the presence of the Bürger family coat of arms in the area around Germany and the Netherlands, featuring a castle as its central theme.
In general, Börger is not a particularly common surname today. However, considering the large presence of the Germanic people in Central Europe, it is likely that the Börger name will continue to be carried on by many future generations.
Variations of the surname Börger
The surname Börger is an Ashkenazic Jewish name that originated in Germany in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word burger, which means citizen. It is most commonly found among Jews from Germany and Eastern Europe. Most variants of the name are based on the German spelling, but there are some variations depending on the region and language.
In Germany and other German-speaking countries, the name is usually spelled Börger, Bürger, or Bürgher. In other European countries, the surname may be spelled Burgher, Bouer, Bourger, Bourge, Bourgher, Bourgeis, Bouurgeois, Boerger, Boorges, Burger, Boerges, Bourgerie, Bouurgeries, Boergerie, Boger, and Boghetz. In the Jewish community, variants such as Boerges, Berger, and Bergman are also sometimes used.
The surnames Börger, Bürger, and Burger may have evolved into variant spellings, depending on the region or language spoken in. In Yiddish, the name has taken on the form Burg, Börg, Börger, Bürg, and Bürgers. In Norway, it is often spelled Børger or Berger. In the United States, the name has become Berger, Burgher, and Burg.
Overall the surname Börger is believed to have originated in Germany of the Middle Ages, and is primarily found among Jews from Germany and Eastern Europe. In modern times, the surname has since taken on many variant spellings and forms, depending on the region or language.
Famous people with the name Börger
- Gabrielle Börger: German architect and pioneering landscape designer.
- Stefan Börger: German football goalkeeper who played in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Christian Börger: German physician and journalist, recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit in 1996.
- Erich Börger: German actor who appeared in film and television productions.
- Hermann Börger: German painter known for painting still lifes, landscapes and cityscapes.
- Erwin Börger: German officer in the Waffen-SS and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
- Jens Börger: German jazz saxophonist and winner of the German Jazz Award “Prix de Jazzmusik” in 1988.
- Hans-Werner Börger: German judge and Chief Justice of the Bundesverfassungsgericht, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.
- Christa Börger: German lawyer and former Federal Minister of Transportation and Energy from 1987 to 1990.
- Silvia Börger: German author and television presenter, recipient of the Order of Merit of Berlin in 2018.