Surname Bullinger - Meaning and Origin

Bullinger: What does the surname Bullinger mean?

The last name Bullinger is of German origin and is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word “bulin”, which means “resident of a log-hut”. As a result, individuals with this surname might have originally been people who lived in structures made of logs.

Since the word “bulin" came to mean “bully”, and many people with this surname had the same nickname, it is likely that the Bullinger family had a long and well respected reputation in their community.

In German language documents, the Bullinger name is often spelled as “Bullinger”, “Bullingerin”, and “Bullingerovich".

In terms of geography, Bullinger families can be found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Other Bullinger families in Europe also emigrated to Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Today, the Bullinger name is still common in many parts of the world and individuals with this surname have gone on to have successful careers in a variety of industries. In addition, some Bullinger families still own and operate businesses in their communities.

Bullinger: Where does the name Bullinger come from?

The last name Bullinger is most commonly found today in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is likely a German origin name, as it is derived from the word ‘Bullinger’, which is a form of the name Büllenreiter, which means ‘rider of a bull’.

Bullinger has become an increasingly common name over the past few decades in Germany, where it is now among the top 100 most popular last names. It is especially prevalent in Bavarian and Western German regions. Research suggests that there may be more than 10,000 individuals in Germany alone that bear the last name Bullinger.

In Austria, Bullinger is among the top 400 most popular surnames, and is particularly common in Vienna, the country’s capital, and Lower Austria. In Switzerland, the last name is much less common, ranking in the top 2000. It is most frequently observed in the canton of Zurich.

It is likely that the Bullinger name originated in Germany, where it is still most popular today. Interestingly, Bullinger is also present in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand, in lesser numbers, due to immigration from the countries mentioned previously.

Variations of the surname Bullinger

The surname Bullinger is derived from the Old German words "bulin" or "billing" which mean "encouraging" or "cheerful". Bullinger is a common Swiss-German and Austrian surname that may have multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Variants of Bullinger include Billinger, Büllinger, Buellinger, Bulinger, Bullinger, and Buollinger. These variants may be spelled differently depending on the country in which is is used.

In Switzerland, variations are Bullinger, Bülingen, Billelingen, Bullinggen, and Billinger. In Austria, the variations are Billinger, Buellenger, and Buellinger, while in Germany, the variations are Ballinger, Ballingerhilf, Boellinger, and Buellenger.

Surnames derived from the same origin as Bullinger may include Buehling, Buhe, Bülliger, Bulger, Buhle, Buhl, Buhlinger, Buhlmann, Buhrer, and Buehler. Other surnames derived from the Old German words "bulin" or "billing" can be found in various countries throughout Europe, particularly in France, Germany and Switzerland.

In general, Bullinger and its various spellings, variants, and associated surnames are found throughout the German-speaking countries of Europe and some of their descendants. As a result, today the surname Bullinger can be found throughout the world and has been a common name for generations.

Famous people with the name Bullinger

• Heinrich Bullinger: prominent Swiss reformer, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli as head of the Zurich church and an important figure during the Protestant Reformation.
• William Henry Bullinger: British journalist, author, and theologian who wrote a defense of the principles of Calvinism.
• Dmitry Bullinger: Russian socialist writer and publicist, chairman of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic during the Russian Civil War.
• Christian David Bullinger: Swiss theologian and physicist who wrote a seminal treatise on the design of mechanical clocks.
• Johann Georg Bullinger: Dutch botanist and entomologist who wrote several classic texts on insects and flowering plants.
• Stephen Bullinger: US Army Brigadier General who served during the American Civil War.
• Frank Bullinger: German diplomat and engineer who served as a delegate to the Unification of Germany in 1871.
• Johann Heinrich Bullinger: Swiss historian and clergyman who wrote extensively on the history and culture of his homeland.
• Robert Bullinger: American lawyer and politician who served as the Mayor of Chicago from 1901 to 1903.
• Maximilian I Bullinger: Swiss philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on the history of philosophy and the arts.

Other surnames

Bulling