Surname Burgholte - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Burgholte: What does the surname Burgholte mean?
The last name Burgholte is a German name, derived from the compound nouns "Burg" (meaning castle or fort) and "holte" (meaning wood). The combination of these two words thus creates a literal translation of "wooded castle." This indicates that the family likely has a strong connection to a fortress in Germany that dates back hundreds of years.
Historically, Germany has been home to many powerful and influential families who have their roots in keeping the castle or fort safe. These families often had many soldiers under their control to keep the fort secure and to defend against intruders. Additionally, these families were sometimes well-off and varying degrees of wealth and success were associated with the position of caretaker for the fort.
When Germany was divided after World War II, many families with the last name Burgholte were scattered across the world and today the name can be found in many different countries. The strength and resilience of these families continues even today as they adapt to their new homes and build relationships in their new countries.
The commonality of the last name Burgholte is a reminder of the power and influence of the families of old, and the importance of its historical symbolic meaning is still understood by many today.
Order DNA origin analysisBurgholte: Where does the name Burgholte come from?
The last name Burgholte is most common in Germany, especially in the northern regions. This name appeared in records early in the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from two Germanic words: burg, meaning "town" or "fortress," and holt, meaning "wood or grove."
For centuries, the Burgholte family name has been a prominent one in Germany. Many members of this family began to rise in wealth and political influence in the 16th and 17th century, when successful merchants and bankers from this line began to acquire land and estates.
Today, the Burgholte family name is still common in Germany. It is most frequently found in Lower Saxony, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Hessen, Baden-Württemberg and Bayern. It is also present in Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, United States and Canada, to a lesser extent.
Within Germany, the Burgholte family name can be found in many parts of the country, in both urban and rural areas. It is seen as a reputable name and many descendants of this family have achieved success in various fields such as business, politics and the arts.
Variations of the surname Burgholte
The surname Burgholte can have many variants, spellings and derivative surnames.
Variants of this surname include: Burgholt, Burgehlt, Berghalt, Bergholte, Bergolt, Bergolth, Bergholt and Bergholz.
The spelling variant of this family name is Burgte, Burghot and Burgholt.
It is believed that the family name could have also been spelled ‘Berghölte’ in the Netherlands between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Derivative surnames of Burgholte include: Burgstaller, Burgwalder, Burgholt and Burgdomp.
In Germany it is believed that the name evolved from the medieval villages of Bergholtz in Hessen, a small village in the western part of Germany.
In the UK, the surname Burgholte appears to have originated from the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In Australia, the Burgholte family came from Winsen in Germany and settled in the Flinders district of South Australia in the early 1870s.
In the United States, the Burgholte name was originally Dutch and is believed to have originated in New York. It is also found in Pennsylvania.
At its core, the Burgholte surname is believed to have derived from pre-seventh century German and Dutch words meaning a town in the hills or a fortified town. This is represented in the name elements 'berg' meaning hill and 'holte' meaning town.
All in all, the Burgholte surname is an old Germanic family name with variants, spellings and derivative surnames present in many countries.
Famous people with the name Burgholte
- Prof. Dr. Rupert Burgholte: German writer, psychiatrist, psycho-analyst, academic, and professor at the Telemark University College, Bochum, Germany.
- Hans von Burgholte: German law scholar and academic, professor of public law and constitutional history at the Hanover-based University of Göttingen.
- Erich von Burgholte: nineteenth-century German philosopher and Jungian psychoanalyst.
- Günther von Burgholte: nineteenth century German theologian and academic, professor at the Universities of Freiburg and Göttingen.
- Jacques von Burgholte: nineteenth century German composer, director of Frankfurt’s grand theatre, author of operas, librettos, and other musical works.
- Hubertus von Burgholte: twentieth century German lawyer, lecturer, and academic, professor of law at the University of Cologne.
- Thoralf von Burgholte: German politician and religious thinker in the late nineteenth century.
- Jerzy von Burgholte: nineteenth century German poet, artist, and musicians, the founder of various musical academy.
- Auguste von Burgholte: nineteenth century German politician and activist for social reforms.
- Heinrich von Burgholte: nineteenth century German historian and professor at the University of Göttingen, academic and scholar of early modern German history.