Surname Bornheim - Meaning and Origin

Bornheim: What does the surname Bornheim mean?

The last name Bornheim is a common German surname derived from the Middle Ages. It is derived from the words “born” and “heim”, which together mean “homestead”. It is thought that the name refers to one who is born near a homestead. This surname is common throughout Germany, mainly in the regions of Rhineland and Westphalia.

The earliest recorded use of this name was during the year 1299 in the form of Boerninheim (located near Cologne). It is assumed that many of the people with this name today have some, if not all, of their ancestors originating from this area.

This surname can be seen in many early records showing that it has been around for centuries and has evolved over that time. For instance, it can appear as Burnheim, Boehnheim, Buernheim, Bornhiem, Bornemann, Buenheim, Buenemann, and Boernesheim.

The name Bornheim is a strong reminder of German heritage with a long and proud history. For many people today, the name is a large part of their identity and a key element of their family history. It also serves as a reminder of their cultural heritage and their ancestor’s roots.

Bornheim: Where does the name Bornheim come from?

The surname Bornheim is most commonly found in Germany. The majority of people with this last name are located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of the country. The Bornheim family originated from a small town of the same name in Germany's state of Hesse. The first recorded instance of the surname dates back to 1319.

Today, the family name remains popular in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically in the cities of Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf, Köln, Bonn, Dortmund, and Essen. Bornheims are also found in much smaller numbers in the surrounding areas such as Rheinland- Palatinate, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria.

Beyond Germany, it is not uncommon to find a few Bornheims in the United States, especially in larger cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. A handful of Bornheims have also been recorded in Brazil, Mexico, and other Latin American countries.

The surname is widely used in Germany today and it is possible to meet people who carry the last name in most of the major cities in the country.

Variations of the surname Bornheim

The surname Bornheim has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the name are Burnham, Byrnham and Bornam. The alternate spellings of the name are Bornheimen, Burnhime, Byrnhem, and Bournhame.

The surname Bornheim is most likely derived from the Old English words burn and ham meaning to stream and a homestead or village of the same name. This name was most likely first used in the area of Northwest Germany in what is known today as the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The surname is also known to have been used in Prussia as the Prussian Uplands (now part of Poland and Germany) were originally part of Germany. This could explain why the surname is found in many countries across Europe.

The surnames mentioned all have the beginning element of burn or burna which is likely derived from the Old English word indicating a stream or river. The ending element of ham is likely derived from the Old English word meaning a homestead or village. Therefore, the surname is likely an occupational name meaning someone who lived near or by a stream or river.

The surname Bornheim can also be found in French, where the spelling is Bourneim and German, where the spelling is Bornhaim. There is also a Polish version of the surname, often spelled as Burnheim. In addition, there are a variety of other surnames of similar origin, such as Bromam, Burnam, Bromham, and Bornham.

Overall, the surname Bornheim is derived from the Old English words burn and ham and has a variety of different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Individuals with this surname can be found in European countries such as Germany, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Famous people with the name Bornheim

• Wolf Bornheim: Wolf Bornheim is a German film producer, production manager, and sound engineer known for his work on films such as Good Bye, Lenin!, Clear and Present Danger, and Kool Savas und das Urbansoul Orchestra.
• Franz Bornheim: Franz Bornheim was a German writer, historian, and literary scholar who was a professor at the University of Vienna from 1899 to 1920. He was one of the founders of German expressionism and was a noted critic of expressionism in drama.
• Albert Bornheim: Albert Bornheim was a German businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Cologne from 1902 to 1907. He was an advocate of Prussia's diplomatic claims in Europe and a supporter of social liberalism.
• Rene Bornheim: Rene Bornheim was a German engineer with a focus on electrical and technical fields who worked at Siemens in Berlin for many years. He was an expert in the field of telecommunications and was involved in numerous research projects.
• Jens Bornheim: Jens Bornheim is a German newspaper editor who was most recently Editor-in-Chief of the Welt am Sonntag. He is the author of the biography John Heartfield, and was involved in the founding of the Berliner Zeitung in 1948.

Other surnames

Bornheimer