Surname Borkens - Meaning and Origin
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Borkens: What does the surname Borkens mean?
The last name Borkens is of Germanic origin and is derived from two elements. The first element, ‘Burg’, means ‘fort’ or ‘fortress’, and the second element, ‘ken’, comes from the Old English ‘ceann’ meaning ‘head’.
Together these elements create the surname Borkens, which translates to “Lord of the Fortress”. This surname originated from an ancestor who served as a leader and commander of a castle or similar fortification.
The name Borkens is common in countries around the world, and the founding family likely lived in Germany hundreds of years ago.
Today, those with the surname Borkens may be found in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and other countries around the world.
The name Borkens is phylogenetic due to its history of being attached to different cultures from around the world. Its meaning as “Lord of the Fortress” conveys a sense of strength and leadership as its original bearer would have been a formidable protector of the land they resided in.
The Borkens family represents the continuation of a long lineage of courageous individuals who have carried its meaning of strength with them throughout their story.
Order DNA origin analysisBorkens: Where does the name Borkens come from?
The last name Borkens is most commonly found in the Netherlands. It is believed that the Borkens surname migrated to the Netherlands from the region of Borken, Germany, centuries ago, in the Middle Ages before the Protestant Reformation. Records of Borkens living in the Netherlands date back to the 17th century.
Today, the last name Borkens is still mostly concentrated in the Netherlands, especially in the north and east of the country. The Netherlands boasts the largest population of Borkens, with some estimates claiming that between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the country carry the surname.
Residents of the Netherlands have spread the Borkens name across the world, as the Dutch population is one of the most highly-mobile in Europe. The surname has travelled to other continents like North America, South America, Africa, and Australia.
Within the United States, the Borkens surname is uncommon overall. The most recent US census reported that fewer than 250 people in the nation have the Borkens last name. The states with the highest concentrations of Borkens people are Maryland, California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
Outside of the Netherlands, the last name Borkens is quite rare. It is primarily kept alive and passed down through family lines, as most people who carry the name are related to each other in some way.
Variations of the surname Borkens
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Borkens are Borckens, Berchens, Borkan, Berchen, Bergkens, Bargoens, Bergkens, Borkens, Borken, Borcke, Bércken, Bürcken, Bürkens, Bürckens, Burkens, Burgk, Búrken, and Bercken.
Borkens is Dutch in origin, and its variants may be found throughout the Low Countries. It is derived from the Middle Dutch name Borgheyns and the Old German name Burhkon or Berchon. This suggests that the surname was an occupational name for someone who worked in a fortified house, likely a storage or garrison.
The surname can also be found in the form Bürcken, derived from the Dutch place name Borkum, located in the German side of the Ems Estuary. The name could refer to someone who originally came from that town, or to someone who lived there and moved away.
Because the surname is closely associated with Dutch history, many of the variants are also common in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. In the United States, immigrants of Dutch descent often took on the spelling Borkens. This variant is most common in Pennsylvania and New York.
In addition, many of the variants of the Borkens surname are commonly found in Dutch colonies such as Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. In French-speaking Canada, the name is seen in its French form Berçon.
Famous people with the name Borkens
- Robert Bork, American judge, lawyer, and legal scholar
- Peter Borkens, American actor
- Carl P. Borkens, German-born American author, illustrator, and cartoonist
- Martha W. Borkens, American landowner and philanthropist
- Stewart Borken, American computer engineer
- Edward C. Borkens, American politician, congressman from Michigan 7. Henry Borkens, American Revolutionary War soldier
- Arthur Borkens, English footballer
- Alfred Borkens, Canadian politician
- Chad Borkens, American Major League baseball player