Surname Borggraefe - Meaning and Origin
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Borggraefe: What does the surname Borggraefe mean?
The surname Borggraefe is derived from the Germanic language, with 'berg' meaning 'mountain' and 'graefe' meaning 'steward'. This likely refers to someone who had a responsibility of looking after a mountain region such as an agriculture manager or overseer of livestock.
Borggraefe is not a common name – it is found mostly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. The earliest record of the Borggraefe name in Germany dates back to 1581 when a Johan Borggrafe was recorded in the Liege Arsenal in Hanover. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name spread to other European countries.
In the United States, the name began appearing in the 18th century among immigrants from European countries. In 1738, a Johan Philip Borggrafe and his wife Catharina migrated to Pennsylvania. Later, several Borggraefes migrated to North Carolina, South Carolina, and onward to other states.
Today, the Borggraefe surname can be found around the world, although it is not especially common. It is still very much associated with the original meaning, reflecting someone who has or had responsibility for an extensive region.
Order DNA origin analysisBorggraefe: Where does the name Borggraefe come from?
The last name Borggraefe is most commonly found today in Germany, particularly in larger cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Dresden. In the United States, it is found most often in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and California. It is also found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
In Germany, Borggraefe is associated with families of nobility who can trace their ancestry to the Pomeranian region of northern Germany. These families had a prominent presence in the 16th century and continued to grow in prominence throughout the 1800s, especially in Pomerania and other nearby regions.
The Borggraefe family established a presence many centuries ago in North America, in Michigan. This is likely linked to German immigrants arriving in the area in the 19th century to work as farmers.
The last name Borggraefe was extremely common in the 19th century, and is still very prominent in Germany today. There remains evidence of its presence in the United States, particularly in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Today, the last name Borggraefe is still quite common in Germany, and it continues to be passed through the generations of families with deep connections to the region. It is also found in smaller numbers in other countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This was likely caused by the migration of German immigrants who chose to leave the homeland in order to pursue better opportunities in those other countries.
Variations of the surname Borggraefe
The origin of the surname Borggraefe can be found in the German region of Westphalia. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to 1369.
Variants of the surname Borggraefe include Borggraf, Borggraeff, Borggraff, Borggrafen and Borggraffen. Spellings of the surname Borggraefe can range from Borgerafe to Borggerafe.
Surnames of the same origin as Borggraefe include Borggräf, Borgeraft, Borgraf, Borgraff, Borgraffen and Borgrafen. Additionally, surnames with similar meanings to Borggraefe include Burggraf, Burgknecht and Burgmann.
The main meaning of the surname Borggraefe is 'castle bailiff' or 'steward of the castle'. Castle bailiff was an important official in the Middle Ages. He supervised and was in charge of the castle's affairs, including its staff, finances and collection of taxes and levies. As a result, the job of the castle bailiff was instrumental in the administration of justice.
The popularity of the Borggraefe surname in Germany grew steadily over the course of two centuries, until its use was almost universal by the middle of the 16th century, when it began to spread beyond Germany's borders and into the neighbouring countries of northern Europe.
Famous people with the name Borggraefe
- Henning Borggraefe: a German sculptor and associated member of the GermanKünstlerbund, a national non-profit artist association in Germany.
- Friedrich Borggraefe: a German theologian and dean at the St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
- Jürgen Borggraefe: a German economist, professor, and author of many books about economics and economics theory.
- Paul Borggraefe: a German geographer and cartographer who worked for the Ministry of Transportation in Hamburg.
- Gerd Borggraefe: a German author and playwright who wrote several plays and novels.
- August Borggraefe: German scientist who researched plant physiology and was a professor at the University of Bonn.
- Christian Borggraefe: a German composer and organist who wrote several popular pieces during the 19th Century.
- Heinrich Borggraefe: a German palaeontologist, professor, and author who wrote several books about the science of his time.
- Joseph Borggraefe: a well-known German stage actor from the 18th Century.
- Jakob Borggraefe: a German physician and professor at the University of Halle who wrote many medical papers.