Surname Borkhart - Meaning and Origin

Borkhart: What does the surname Borkhart mean?

The last name Borkhart is a German occupational surname indicating a person’s ancestral occupation as a "bailiff." A bailiff was a legal clerk in charge of collecting particular fees and taxes, administering certain court procedures, and stewarding certain legal functions.

The suffix "hart" applied to the surname indicates an individual with not only a legal strength or courage, but with physical strength as well. The word "hart" is derived from Germanic language origin meaning "hard," and in early German genealogical records, names with the suffix "hart" were associated with a strong and powerful individual.

The Borkhart surname is also associated with certain geographical regions of Germany from which it is believed to have originated. It’s speculated that the Borkhart name derived from regions in either Bavaria, the Rhineland-Palatinate, or Hesse.

Today, the Borkhart name remains a popular German surname carried by individuals across the world with connections to its Germanic roots. The Borkhart name was applied to a variety of families living in different regions throughout Germany over the centuries, making each branch of the widespread Borkhart family narrative unique and highly individualized.

Borkhart: Where does the name Borkhart come from?

The last name Borkhart is most common in the United States today, and is mostly concentrated in the Midwest. According to the World Names Profiler it is most prevalent in Iowa, followed by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

Additionally, the name also has roots in Germany, and is seen throughout Bavaria, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony—but it is much more common in Germany today than it is in the U.S.

The name Borkhart likely has a variety of origins. Some have suggested it was a variation of the German word "Borkum," which refers to a small island off the coast of Germany. It may have also evolved from the German word "Braugerhart," which means "brewery heart." In other cases, it was likely derived from a family name, which was a given to individuals who lived in a specific area—as was often the custom of the time.

Regardless of its origin, the name Borkhart continues to carry on from generation to generation, and it serves as a reminder of the family's past and the vibrant culture of many countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Borkhart

The surname Borkhart is of Germanic origin and is derived from the personal name Borchard. It is an occupational name for a monastery steward or agricultural laborer derived from the Middle High German word “burchard”, which means ‘steward’. Variations of this surname include Borchardt, Borkhardt, Borkhart, Borkharter, Borkharth, Borkert and Borkerts. Other Germanic spellings of this surname are Boringer and Boringen. In some cases, the surname has been Anglicized to Burchard, Burchart, and even Birt.

The surname is mostly found in the United States in several states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Other countries where the surname has a presence include Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others.

In the United States, the surname is commonly spelled Borkhart. The Americanized form of the spelling is Borkhardt. Borkert is the Dutch spelling of the name. Borchardt is a German spelling of the surname and Boringer is a variant of the surname originating in Germany. Borkharth is an uncommon spelling of the surname and Birt is an Americanized version of the Germanic name, Borkhart.

The surname Borkhart is a variant of the Germanic surnames Borkhardt, Borkharth, Borkert and Borchardt. It is mainly found in the United States, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Americanized versions are Borkhardt and Birt. Other variants include Borkerts, Boringer, and Boringen.

Famous people with the name Borkhart

• Earle Borkhardt: Former NHL hockey player
• B.A. Borkhart: American lawyer who specializes in the energy sector
• Captain Leonard Borkhart: Retired US Navy Captain and revered American naval commander
• John Borkhart: Executive director of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
• John Borkhart Jr.: Entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Bessie Borkhart: Former New York City Opera Singer
• Michelle Borkhart: Former professional Ballet dancer
• Eileen Borkhart: Emmy Award-Winning Television Producer
• Ann Borkhart: Acclaimed Fine Artist
• Cecilia Borkhart: Founding member of Women in Film Los Angeles
• Ian Borkhart: Writer and Producer for the film industry
• Richard Borkhart: Famed American Actor
• Rachel Borkhart: Award-winning Poet
• Bill Borkhart: Legendary Football Coach
• Rafer Borkhart: Award-winning Jazz Pianist
• Karl Borkhart: Noted Composer and Producer
• Patrick Borkhart: Canadian Actor
• Thomas Borkhart: Renowned US Historian
• Noah Borkhart: Renowned Nature Photographer
• Ashley Borkhart: Acclaimed Video Game Designer

Other surnames

Borkhardt