Surname Bülte - Meaning and Origin
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Bülte: What does the surname Bülte mean?
The last name Bülte is a German surname derived from the residence of a person. Bülte is derived from the Old German word meaning “hut” or “cottage.” This surname likely originated in northern Germany as well as some parts of the Netherlands, although the exact origin is unknown. Those with the Bülte surname likely lived in small homes, called bülte, which were made of wood or clay and had a thatched roof.
The surname likely dates back to the Middle Ages, making it difficult to trace the exact history of the name. It is thought that the name and its variants, such as Bulthuis, may be descended from a single ancestral line. The name may have been brought to North America by German immigrants during the 18th century.
In modern times, the surname Bülte is still found in Germany as well as other countries. The exact number of people with this name is unknown, but the 2000 German census indicates that the Bülte surname is found in Berlin, Hamburg, and other regions of the country.
Today, the surname Bülte is a reminder of the small villages and humble homes of the Middle Ages. The name may evoke images of cozy cottages surrounded by green fields and vast forests, a reflection of the peaceful life of those who once lived with the Bülte surname.
Order DNA origin analysisBülte: Where does the name Bülte come from?
The last name Bülte is most commonly found in Germany. In 2020, it was the 832nd most popular last name in the country, distinguishing it from many other Germanic-style surnames.
The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1147. It possible derives from the German word bülte, which refers to a common tool used by millers to test the fineness of their flour. Some argue it may derive from an old Germanic name such as Baldulf, Baldewin, or Baudo.
Today, the surname Bülte is mainly concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of Germany's most populous states. Smaller numbers can be found in Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Baden-Württemberg.
Although the majority of bearers of the Bülte surname are found in Germany, the name is also found in countries around the world which have had large German diaspora communities, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa.
Most members of Bülte families today tend to keep a close connection to their heritage and many are proud of the German cultural history associated with the name.
Variations of the surname Bülte
The surname Bülte is derived from the German word "Bühl," which means "hill" or "mound." It's a popular surname in Germany and can be found in various variants, though mostly in the spellings Bohlte, Bölte, Böhlt, Boelte, Bölt, Buelt, Bulth, Boehlte, Buelte, Boelth, Buelth, Buelthe, and Büthe.
In Dutch, this surname is spelled either Boelte or Bölte, depending on the dialect of Dutch spoken in the particular area. Even in Dutch, the most common spelling is still Bülte.
In German records, the surname is most often spelled as Bölte or Boelte, but in other parts of the world may take on the more universal form of Bulth. Alternately, it may be spelled without the umlaut: Bulte, although this is not as common.
The surname Buelthe is a combination of the main root Bülte with the typical German suffix -the, which diminishes the surname slightly and changes the pronunciation.
Surnames of a similar origin include Bultmann, Bulthuis, Bültger, and Bulten. Although these surnames share some similarities with Bülte, they are not variations of the name.
The surname Bülte is quite common in the United States, with nearly 1,600 people bearing the name. In the Netherlands, 1,000 people carry the surname, which is about 10 times more common than the original spelling Bölte.
Famous people with the name Bülte
- Benni Bülte: German football player
- David Bülte: German former professional football goalkeeper
- Sönke Bülte: German lawyer and LGBT rights activist
- Wilfried Bülte: German actor
- Marius Bülte: German soccer player
- Konrad Bülte: German football player
- Henning Bülte: German football coach
- Stephan Bülte: German football coach
- Richard Bülte: German lawyer and professor
- Karsten Bülte: German doctor and biochemist