Surname Bürkmayer - Meaning and Origin

Bürkmayer: What does the surname Bürkmayer mean?

The last name Bürkmayer is a German surname that originated in Bavaria. It is derived from the Middle High German words bürk which means 'plank' or 'beam' and meier which means 'farmer'. Consequently, the last name Bürkmayer may refer to someone who was a farmer who specialized in dealing with planks or beams.

The initial bearer of this name was likely a farmer from the Bavarian region, who had a reputation for producing and dealing in quality planks and beams. As time went on, the Bürkmayer surname spread beyond the Bavarian state into other regions of Germany as a result of migrations and other social movements.

Over time, people bearing this last name would have adapted their careers to fit the demands of their time and place. Many likely became involved in the booming lumber trade and forestry industry in the 19th century and beyond. Some may have became master woodworkers or craftsmen, while others stayed true to their roots in farming.

In modern times, the last name Bürkmayer has become increasingly rare. Nevertheless, it serves to remind its bearers of past generations and their unique history in the Bavarian region of Southern Germany.

Bürkmayer: Where does the name Bürkmayer come from?

The last name Bürkmayer is common in a number of countries, most prominently in Germany and Austria. In Germany, records indicate that the most common locations for occurrences of Bürkmayer are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, suggesting a possible South German origin.

This surname is also found in Austria, albeit in much smaller numbers, and has been recorded in the provinces Vorarlberg and Salzburg, as well as Vienna and other parts of Lower Austria.

Elsewhere, Bürkmayer can be found in other parts of the former Austrian monarchy, most significantly in northeast Czech Republic and south Poland. It appears in a few occasions both in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

Given the obvious German origin of the Bürkmayer surname, it is quite likely the family’s presence in these other countries is the result of the migrations of people with this surname across the Germanic countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Overall, today the last name Bürkmayer is most concentrated in Germany and Austria, but also appears to have been dispersed in the past centuries to other countries across Europe and beyond.

Variations of the surname Bürkmayer

The surname Bürkmayer is often spelled with a "u" with an umlaut, and can be spelled Burkmayer, Buerkmayer and Burkmeyer as well.

Variants of the surname could include Buerckmayer, Buerkmeier, Burkmeier, Burkmaier, Boerkmaier, Burkmeijer, Börckmeier, Bergmeier, Bürck, Börck, Berkmayer, Börkmeyer, Büerkmeyer, Börkmayer, and Bürkmair . As is often the case with surnames, spelling variations were often due to regional or local dialects.

Other surnames originating from the same meaning as Bürkmayer are Bürgmeier, Burghammer, Bürgschmidt, Bürgmann, Bürgera, Bürgstadter, Bergeson, Bergesheimer, Berghamer, Burghofer, Burghauser, Berghofer, Burghold, and Bürghüter.

The prefixes "Burk", "Berk" and "Burg" all have similar meanings. "Burk" and "Burg" both refer to fortifications, usually of a small size, while a "Berk" refers to a grove or clearing, often on a hilltop. Thus, all of these surnames originate from a similar place-name. The suffix "-mayer" means "mayor", or indicates that the first bearer was the mayor or a leader of the vicinity.

Famous people with the name Bürkmayer

• Hans-Jakob Bürkmayer, Swiss political figure and president of the Social Democratic party from 1916 to 1920.
• Peter Bürkmayer, German actor and director best known for his roles in the films Der Eismann and Siti.
• Hans Bürkmayer, Austrian painter and printmaker best known for his landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes.
• Bernhard Bürkmayer, Austrian composer of the classical era, best known for his works of instrumental music.
• Isabella Bürkmayer, Austrian Baroque soprano and opera singer of the 18th century.
• Gottfried Bürkmayer, Austrian soil scientist and naturalist known for his studies of earthworms and aquatic plants.
• Rudolf Bürkmayer, Austrian sculptor best known for his bronze and stone sculptures.
• Ludwig Bürkmayer, Austrian lawyer, Catholic politician, and historian who studied the history of the town of Graz.
• František Bürkmayer, Czechoslovakian zoologist and evolutionary biologist who studied spiders and other arthropods.
• Tadeáš Bürkmayer, Czechoslovakian film director, cinematographer, and artist best known for his avant-garde films.

Other surnames

Bürkmayr