Surname Buchwalder - Meaning and Origin
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Buchwalder: What does the surname Buchwalder mean?
The surname Buchwalder is of German origin, and is derived from the German word 'Buchwälder', meaning 'forest of books'. The name likely originated as a toponymic surname for a person from a place where a lot of books were made or kept. The name first appeared in Germany in the 14th century, and it is believed to have spread from there into Free Switzerland in the 16th century. Today, the surname is common in both German and Swiss families.
Many people with the Buchwalder surname have continued to carry on the tradition of literature, writing and printing. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a large number of books and pamphlets about local history and culture were published in Switzerland using the Buchwalder name. One famous writer, Curt Buchwalder, wrote nine books about Swiss history in the 1940s and 1950s.
The surname Buchwalder also has several famous names associated with it, including Swiss politician and businessman Werner Buchwalder and Swiss diplomat Adrienne Buchwalder. The name has a proud connection to Swiss culture that remains strong today. As such, most people with the Buchwalder surname live in Swiss cantons, adding an even greater level of prestige to the surname.
Overall, the last name Buchwalder is a proud, long-standing representation of Swiss culture and literature. It reflects a family deeply embedded in Swiss traditions, and honors the generations of writers, artists and politicians that have come before those with the Buchwalder name.
Order DNA origin analysisBuchwalder: Where does the name Buchwalder come from?
The last name Buchwalder is common in German-speaking countries, primarily Switzerland. It is popular in the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland, including Bern, Zurich, Basel, Aargau, St Gallen, Graubünden, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Lucerne. The name was historically associated with the cantons of Bern, Zurich, and Basel. In Berlin, the name is common in the Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, and Moabit neighborhoods.
Buchwalder is also found in the Netherlands, Austria, and parts of the United States. In the Netherlands, the name is common in the provinces of Friesland, Gelderland, Utrecht, Fryslân, Groningen, and Drenthe. In Austria, it is frequent in Vienna. In the United States, the name is most popular in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California.
Most Buchwalders in the United States are of German or Austrian descent, with some originating from Switzerland and the Netherlands as well. Today, there are over 10,000 individuals with the last name in the country, making it one of the most common surnames in the United States.
The surname has seen some minor alterations over time, with Buchwälder and Buckelwalder both considered variants of the name.
Variations of the surname Buchwalder
The surname Buchwalder can be written and spelled in different ways. Most commonly, it is spelled Buchwalder, however it can also be spelled Buchwalter, Buchwaldt, Buchwaltera, Beuchwalder, Beuchwalter, Beuchwaldt, and Beuchwaltera.
Variants of this surname may include the German forms Buchwälder and Buchwald, as well as the Danish version Bokwalder, the Dutch Bokwal and the Polish form Bukwald. In some cases, a "Beuch" may be used to prefix Buchwalder, which may simply be a variation of spelling the same name.
The Buchwalder surname is likely derived from the Old German words "buchan," meaning "warring," and "walder," meaning "forest." The literal translation of this surname is "forest warrior," which likely refers to a warrior trained to fight in the forest, possibly as a member of a militia.
Surnames that share a common ancestor with Buchwalder include Bookwalter, Buscher, Buchhalter, Bachhalter, Büchele, and Bächle. These surnames were formed by combining the device of a name with the ending suffix "-er," which was and continues to be common practice in Germany.
In summary, Buchwalder is a German surname of Old German origin, derived from the words "buchan," meaning "warring," and "walder," meaning "forest." Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Buchwälder, Buchwald, Bokwalder, Bokwal, Bukwald, Beuchwalder, Beuchwalter, Beuchwaldt, Beuchwaltera, Bookwalter, Buscher, Buchhalter, Bachhalter, Büchele, and Bächle.
Famous people with the name Buchwalder
- William Buchwalder: Athletic Director, University of Southern California.
- Dave Buchwalder: Professional Football Player in the USFL and NFL.
- Alexander Buchwalder: Swiss entrepreneur who headed the Zug-based Eternit AG corporation.
- Peter Buchwalder: Swiss lawyer, Professor of Public Law and Former Rector of the University of Zurich.
- John Buchwalder: Professional Baseball Player in theinf Minor Leagues.
- Robert Buchwalder: Multiple Emmy Award-winning television producer and director.
- William E. Buchwalder Jr.: Aviation battalion commander during World War II.
- Armin Buchwalder: Professor of Neurology at the University Hospital Zurich.
- Max Buchwalder: Historic Swiss chess player who was the Fifth Swiss Chess Champion in 1912.
- Liane Buchwalder: The first female Swiss boxing champion in the Lightweight division.