Surname Broch - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Broch: What does the surname Broch mean?
The last name Broch is believed to be of Germanic origin and is thought to originate from the German word “broch”, which refers to a fort or castle in medieval times. Some historians have argued that the word could have also been derived from the Latin word “brucus”, which refers to a “bastion” or “fortified village”.
The first documented record of the name Broch was to be found in 18th century Prussia, where it was known as “Bromm”. It is speculated that this name was derived from an old German dialect of the language. The name Broch is most commonly found in areas with a high German population, or where German immigrants have settled, such as the United States of America, Canada and Australia.
The Broch surname represents a highly noble family, and is associated with strength and loyalty. In the sense of ancestry, it symbolizes a kind of “noblesse oblige”, a sense of responsibility towards family that has been inherited from generations past. In the 21st century, the Broch name is considered to be a royal sounding name, and is often the choice of British families who have noble bloodline.
Order DNA origin analysisBroch: Where does the name Broch come from?
The last name Broch is most common today in Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. In Germany, it is estimated that upwards of 1,800 individuals with the last name live in the country. According to the 2000 United States Census, a total of 5 people in the United States had the last name Broch, which puts its prevalence in the US at an infinitesimal 0.0001%.
The origin of the name is unclear but is likely derived from the High German word 'broch' meaning castle. For most of history, the name would have denoted people who had castleholds or people in high positions of power. As the various regions of Germany were divided among different families, the name likely spread from one castlehold to another.
Today, the name Broch has lost much of its historical importance, though the last name is still used widely throughout Europe. It is also prevalent in Israel, as many German Jews emigrated there during and after World War II. It is a fairly uncommon name in the United States, however, it is beginning to see an increase in popularity as immigrants from Europe continue to arrive.
Variations of the surname Broch
There are several alternative spellings that have been used for the surname Broch and its variants. The most common variant of the surname is Brok, with alternative spellings including Broeke, Broekes, Brokken, Brokke, Brokers, Brokes, Brouke, Brouk, and Brouch. In some cases, the surname may have been used interchangeably with the German surname Brock, which uses a similar spelling but is pronounced differently.
The Scandinavian version of the surname is often found as Bro, with spellings such as Broe, Broo, Bru, Brue, and Bruh. In Norway, the surname Broch may have been used interchangeably with Brodd, a variant surname.
In other countries such as Austria, the surname may appear as Broc. The Dutch version of the surname is often found as Broek and Brök with variants that include Broeken, Broeke, Brokk, Brokken, Brokker, Broks, Broox, and Brokx.
In Scotland, variations of the surname Broch have been found as Breach, Brache, Brach, and Bruch. A number of Slovakian and Croatian versions of the surname have been found including Brech, Brechta, Breh, Brecha, Brechtov, Brehov, and Brehuš.
In some cases the surname may have been derived from a place or location, with variants including Broick, Broich, Broyck, and Broych. Some variants may have derived from prefixes or be related to certain regions or countries, with examples such as Brocha from Portugal, Bruch from Poland, Bruager from Germany, Broquoli from Italy, and Bramdstedell from Denmark.
Famous people with the name Broch
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: prominent German-American architect, considered one of the pioneers of modernist architecture.
- Broch Tuatheach: legendary Irish high king and ancestor figure of the legendary Eóganachta dynasty.
- Johann Georg Broch: 19th century German landscape painter.
- Johann Broch: German surgeon and scientist from the 17th century.
- Johannes Broch: Norwegian missionary who established an orphanage in Zimbabwe in the 19th century.
- Erich Broch: Austrian-born American film producer and director.
- Gottfried Broch: German-Czech zoologist, one of the earliest pioneers of teuthology, or cephalopod biology.
- Ulrika Broch: Norwegian rapper, singer, and writer, and one of Norway's most popular musical artists.
- Moritz Broch: Austrian-born Austrian-American sociologist of the 20th century, best known for his work on urban sociology, sociology of religion, and the sociology of culture.
- Ferdinand Broch: 19th century Danish writer, statesman, and minister of Foreign Affairs.