Surname Burmeester - Meaning and Origin
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Burmeester: What does the surname Burmeester mean?
The surname Burmeester is of Dutch origin, derived from the occupational name for a 'Master of a fort or harbor'. It is also derived from the Middle Dutch element būr meaning "fortification or walled city" and meester meaning "master". Its earliest record dates back to 1224 in the Netherlands, making it a very old family name in Europe.
The Burmeester surname is thought to have originally belonged to a person in charge of a castle, or a harbour and may have also been a title of nobility. The name is found mainly throughout Northern Europe and can be found in areas as widespread as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The Burmeester name also has a dramatic history in which those of the name were persecuted during the Dutch Civil War, for their Calvinism and Holland's Protestant Revolution. This heroic history gave its bearers a sense of pride which, up until this day, is still held in frequent use of the Burmeester name.
Nonetheless, the Burmeester surname is an old and respected one having been in use by Dutch families for centuries, and its name bearers have always had an attitude of pride and determination for their name and heritage. It is a name of a proud and tenacious family of long-standing Dutch stock.
Order DNA origin analysisBurmeester: Where does the name Burmeester come from?
The last name Burmeester is most common in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. The Netherlands is home to the largest population of Burmeesters, with an estimated 10,400 people bearing the name. This is due to the fact that it is a Dutch surname, derived from a combination of the words 'bur', meaning town, and 'meester', meaning master. Germany is home to the second largest population, with over 5,500 Burmeesters residing there. In the United States, the last name appears in lower numbers, with only around 1,100 people bearing the name. It is likely that a large portion of American Burmeesters emigrated from either the Netherlands or Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The name is most commonly associated with the Dutch cities of Zutphen and Leiden. It is possible that the name was used to refer to someone who lived in or near these towns. The last name also appears in records from the city of Magdeburg, located in modern-day Germany.
Overall, Burmeester is not an overly common last name, but it is most likely to be found in the above-mentioned countries, where a certain concentration of people with the surname live today.
Variations of the surname Burmeester
The surname Burmeester has a few variants and spellings, as well as some surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the surname Burmeester include Burmeister, Burmeistre, Burmister, and Bermister. Spellings of this surname can include Boermeester, Borremeister, and Borremeacher. In some cases, the surname may be spelled as Boermeister, Bermeister, and Bormeister.
Surnames of the same origin as Burmeester include Boermeijaard, Burgmeijer, Boehrmeyer, Boehmeijer, Webermeier, Boermeyster, Bormeyer, Boermeijer, Bormeyers, and Borremans.
Burmeester is of Dutch origin and was initially used as an occupational surname for a farmer or landowner. This word is derived from the Dutch words ‘boer’, which is translated to ‘farmer’ and ‘meester’ which stands for ‘master’ or ‘owner’. In some cases, this surname was also used as a nickname for someone who acted imperiously.
The Burmeester surname can be found in the Netherlands and Germany. In the United States, people with this surname are primarily located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
Famous people with the name Burmeester
- Jean-Pierre Burmeester: Actor and Director of the Amsterdam Citizen's Theatre
- Trynke Burmeester: Dutch Dragon Boat Athlete
- Torquist Burmeester: Famous Norwegian Painter and Poet
- Rene Burmeester: North Sea Radio Station Engineer
- Pieter Burmeester: Dutch Political Activist and Historian
- Floor Burmeester: Established Artist from the Dutch Art Scene
- Estelle Burmeester: Belgian Olympic Swimmer
- Klaud Burmeester: Founder of the Amsterdam Beer Brewery
- Bas Burmeester: Award-Winning Film Director
- Inez Burmeester: Dutch Initiator of a Nurses' Strike in 2019