Surname Bültjes - Meaning and Origin

Bültjes: What does the surname Bültjes mean?

The last name Bültjes is an occupational German name, derived from the Middle High German words “bülte” or “bültezen,” meaning “cooper.” A cooper is a person who makes or repairs wooden containers and barrels, and was a common occupation in German-speaking regions centuries ago. The word “Bültjes” is a diminutive form of “Bülte,” and as such, indicates that the bearer of the last name is likely to have come from a long line of coopers.

Variations on this last name include Bülte, Bültz, Bültzigen, Bülting, Bültjer, Bülts, Bültz, Bültzen, Bültzenback and Bültzirsch.

The Bültz family in particular has a long history in Germany, with records going back to before the 12th century in the town of Holthausen in Lower Saxony. Later generations of Bültzes spread out across Germany and further afield in the centuries that followed, with many emigrating for better work and other opportunities in North America, South Africa, and Australia.

So if your last name is Bültjes, you may be descended from a long line of coopers, whose hard work, dedication, and skill continue to be remembered today.

Bültjes: Where does the name Bültjes come from?

The last name Bültjes is relatively uncommon, although it can be found in many countries around the world. The surname is most commonly seen in the Netherlands, where it is thought to have originated. People with this surname can be found in other parts of Europe like Germany and France, as well as other countries including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The earliest records of the surname Bültjes can be traced to the 1700s in the Netherlands when a Bartholomeus Bultjes was recorded as living in Schijndel. The surname is thought to have derived from the Dutch word ‘bult’, meaning ‘bulge’ or ‘swelling’, perhaps referring to someone who was burly or large in stature.

In the Netherlands, the Bültjes surname has been part of Dutch history for centuries and can still be found in many of the country’s provinces today. The name is particularly prevalent in the northern part of the Netherlands, in places with Dutch names such as Overijssel, Drenthe and Friesland. Some members of the Bültjes family have also emigrated to other countries, creating branches of the name in many different parts of the world.

In general, the surname Bültjes is quite rare today, but with its deep roots in the Netherlands and its expansion into many other countries, it can still be found in many places around the world.

Variations of the surname Bültjes

Bültjes is a low German surname originating in the region of Pomerania. Its variants and spellings include Bultjes, Bulte, Bult, Bulte, Bultje, Bulten, Bueltjes, Bulthuis, Bolthaus, and Bulgatis.

Variants of the surname are typically found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, and Poland, while related surnames are common in northern regions surrounding the three countries. Bültjes is likely derived from the Low German word bulte, meaning ‘neighbourhood’ or ‘territory’.

Many of these variants—Bult, Bulte, Bulten, Bultje, Bultjes, Bulthuis and Bolthaus—are formed from an Old German form bulte, meaning ‘Mess’ or ‘Conclave’. Bult refers to a person who lived on the outskirts of a settlement. It was likely used as a term for a peasant living on land that was owned by a more distinguished family in the same area. The surname Bültjes is not linked to any noble families, however, it may have been used referring to someone who lived on the fringes of a settlement and paid a tax to the owners of the land.

There are other variants of the Bültjes surname that originated in the Netherlands, such as Burgers and Grondbaas. The name Burgers is possibly a modern form of Bültjes derived from burg, which originally meant a fortified settlement, such as a castle or fortified city. The name Grondbaas is linked to the word grond, which means ‘soil’ or ‘ground’, and baas, meaning ‘lord’ or ‘master’. This likely referred to someone who owned or worked the land and was important in the society of the region.

In all, variants of the Bültjes surname can trace their origins to low German words and likely referred to people who lived on the outskirts of a settlement and paid taxes to the owners of the land.

Famous people with the name Bültjes

• Joram Bültjes: Dutch speed skater and multiple world champion.
• Jan Bültjes: Dutch footballer who played for FC Volendam and FC Utrecht.
• Emiel Bültjes: Dutch long track speed skater specialized in middle distance.
• Herman Bültjes: Dutch Olympic speed skater who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics.
• Jan Bültjes: Dutch violinist and conductor of the Noord Nederlands Orkest.
• Anke Bültjes: German speed skater and world champion of several distances.
• Joop Bültjes: Dutch professional football manager who has worked with teams like FC Wageningen.
• Derk Bültjes: Dutch speed skater and multiple world champion.
• Noortje Bültjes: Dutch professional korfballer who played for Robur '58.
• Hein Bültjes: Dutch speed skater and multiple world champion.

Other surnames

BultjerBültjer