Surname Brokhof - Meaning and Origin
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Brokhof: What does the surname Brokhof mean?
The last name Brokhof is of Dutch origin, derived from the pre-medieval Dutch word ‘broch’, which means path. In medieval Dutch this would have suggested someone living close to a path, such as a road or footpath. It is also possible that the name was derived from a house name or a surname of an ancestor.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Brokhof surname was associated with parts of modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. During this period, the name was used as both a surname and a place-name, suggesting that people living close to a path or road often took the name as their surname. It is also possible that the name was derived from the ancient Dutch word ‘broche’, which means village.
Today, the surname Brokhof is still common in the Netherlands, Belgium, and several other European countries. It is also found in places where Dutch immigrants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In general, the surname Brokhof conveys a sense of origins associated with the countryside, suggesting an association with the paths and roads of the countryside and villages. It is also a reminder of a time when people were more closely connected to the land and their local region.
Order DNA origin analysisBrokhof: Where does the name Brokhof come from?
The last name Brokhof is most commonly associated with the Netherlands. It is a fairly rare surname, but there is a small concentration of Brokhofs living in the Netherlands. According to the Netherlands' Central Bureau for Genealogy, the Dutch last name Brokhof is derived from the old Dutch word, broeck, meaning "small creek" or "brook." Historically, people often took last names based on the town, farm, or other location where they lived, worked, or had some affiliation.
The Netherlands is known as “the low countries,” and Dutch Brokhofs may have taken their name from areas there. Brokhofs may also hail from Germany, where the surname is documented in the Plattdeutsch language as Brökhop. It's possible that some of the older Brokhofs in the Netherlands were of German ancestry.
Today, Brokhof is still a fairly uncommon name outside of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, however, information from the Central Bureau for Genealogy estimates there to be over 1,100 people currently with the last name Brokhof. Brokhofs in the Netherlands are typically concentrated in the northern, coastal provinces where the Dutch language is most commonly spoken. In the United States, censuses show there are very few Brokhofs living outside of the Netherlands, and most of those who do are immigrants who have recently arrived in the country.
Variations of the surname Brokhof
The surname Brokhof has several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Bronkhorst, Bronkhorst, Broenkhoff, Bronkhoff, Bronkhoffe, Bronshof, Bronkhof, Bronshof, Bronkhuis, Brunkerhoff, Brunkerhoffe, Bronkhoffen, Brunkehoff, Broenkoff, Brockhoff and Broinski.
Brokhof is a Dutch toponymic surname, indicating noble origins. It is derived from the Dutch word 'bronk', meaning a narrow stretch of grassland or marsh between ditches, as found in the Dutch province of Groningen.
Bronkhorst is derived from the two Dutch words 'bron' and 'horst', meaning springs and wooded hills respectively. Bronkhoff is a combination of 'bron' and 'hoff', meaning springs and court respectively. Broenkoff and Brunkhoff are derived from the Dutch words 'broe' and 'koff', meaning ground and lay by the way respectively.
Broinski is a patronymic surname, derived from the Dutch personal name 'Brun', a short form of the Germanic name 'Bruno'.
The various spellings and surnames of Brokhof serve as evidence of the regional accents and dialects found throughout Netherlands. The various forms of this surname are each connected to the Dutch landscape, indicating the area of origin of its earliest bearers.
Famous people with the name Brokhof
- Bre Pettis: Bre Pettis is an American entrepreneur and maker known for his work as the former CEO of MakerBot, a desktop 3D printing company that he founded in 2009.
- Seth Brokhoff: Seth Brokhoff is a voice-over artist and professional narrator who has recorded hundreds of audiobooks, such as Ender's Game, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.
- Will Brokhoff: Will Brokhoff is an American actor, known for his roles in the films The Spectacular Now, Project X, and I'm Still Here.
- Jennifer Brokhof: Jennifer Brokhof is an American fitness influencer with over 100k followers on Instagram.
- Paul Brokhoff: Paul Brokhoff is a Dutch actor and screenwriter best known for his roles in The Book of Life and Four Eyes and Six Guns.
- Earle Brokhoff: Earle Brokhoff is a Canadian artist and photographer specializing in landscape and documentary photography.
- Viktor Brokhoff: Viktor Brokhoff is a German singer and songwriter known for his albums Schwerelos and Wo die Liebe Wohnt.
- Andreas Brokhoff: Andreas Brokhoff is a Swedish artist and composer whose works are inspired by larger cultural themes and movements.
- Melchert Brokhoff: Melchert Brokhoff is an American architect known for his work on residential projects in the Twin Cities area.