Surname Bovenkerck - Meaning and Origin
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Bovenkerck: What does the surname Bovenkerck mean?
The last name Bovenkerck is of Dutch origin, and it has been speculated that its original form may have been Bovinckercken, derived from the Dutch words bovin and kercken, both meaning “church”. This would make the overall meaning of the name “upper church”. It is believed that those with the Bovenkerck name were either of a higher social class or living in an especially affluent area.
The Bovenkerck name has been found throughout Europe, but primarily in Germany, France, Holland, and Belgium. In Germany, the name is often found as Bovenkeyer, Bovenkerk, Bovankerck, and Bovenkeercken. In France, it is often represented as Bovenkerc or Bovenkirk.
The exact origin of the Bovenkerck name is unclear, but it is believed to be derived from a location where a church was built on a hill or a higher elevation. It is also speculated that it could have been derived from a particular family's feud with a priest. Regardless, the true origin of the name remains disputed.
The Bovenkerck surname can also be found in the United States, primarily along the East Coast. This is reflective of the early Dutch immigrants who settled in the US centuries ago, many of whom had the Bovenkerck surname.
Order DNA origin analysisBovenkerck: Where does the name Bovenkerck come from?
The last name Bovenkerck is a relatively uncommon surname today, primarily in Europe, but its presence can be found all around the world. In Europe, the Bovenkerck name is found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. In the United States, Bovenkerck can be found in areas with Dutch and French ancestry, like Michigan, Minnesota, California, and Oregon. It is also found in parts of Canada, notably Ontario and Québec.
In the Netherlands, Bovenkerck is not as common as some other Dutch surnames, such as van der, van Dijk, and de Vries. In fact, it was only ranked at number 1,870 of the most common Dutch surnames, according to surname data collected in 2016. In France, Bovenkerck is also rare. In Belgium, the name is most populous in the Flemish Region.
The Bovenkerck family name can be traced back to the region of Zeeland in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. The earliest Bovenkercks found in record were likely walled around the coastal village of Wemeldinge, where many other Dutch surnames can be found. Despite the Bovenkerck name not being widely used around the globe today, its history in Europe is deeply rooted.
Variations of the surname Bovenkerck
The surname Bovenkerck is a Dutch surname that can come in many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Bovenkerck is a patronymic surname, which basically refers to a surname derived from the given name of a male ancestor in the paternal line - in this case, Boven. Other variations of the name include Bovenkirken, Bovenkirk, Bovenkirk, Bauvenkercke, Bawenkerck, Bauwerkercke, and Buijerken.
Bovenkerck can also be found as Bevan, Baverkirk, and even Bovark. These surnames are regional variations of the same name, stemming from Dutch dialects such as Low Saxon and Flemish. Other regional variations of the surname include Bovenkerk, Bovenkirk, Bovenkirkendam, Bovenkerkvelde, Bovenhoek, and Buijerken, which are all recognizably similar to the standard spelling.
A few other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin can also include Bouver, Bovenkerks, Bovenkars, Bovenkeers, Bowerkirk, Bovert, Bower, and Buijer. Some of these surnames may have two words instead of one, such as Bovenkirk or Bouver, that provide an alternate pronunciation of the name.
Overall, the surname Bovenkerck is widespread throughout the Netherlands and beyond. Many of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin have been adopted in other countries, including the United States and Canada. Although there are many variants of the Bovenkerck surname, they all share the same Dutch origin.
Famous people with the name Bovenkerck
- Max Bovenkerck: a photographer, musician, and film producer.
- Donceel Bovenkerck: a famous Dutch fashion designer.
- Gouverneur Bovenkerck: a Dutch politician and State Secretary in the second cabinet of Rutte.
- Pamela Bovenkerck: an American film and television producer.
- Marie Bovenkerck: a Dutch war heroine and a recipient of the Dutch Royal Decoration of Orange Nassau.
- Arnold Bovenkerck: a Dutch businessman and the chairman of the Rotterdam Port Authority.
- Bart Bovenkerck: a Dutch film director and screenwriter.
- Constantin Bovenkerck: a Dutch film director, editor, and actress.
- Magali Bovenkerck: a Belgian politician. 10.Susanna Bovenkerck: a Dutch politician and a Member of the European Parliament.