Surname Dunkhorst - Meaning and Origin
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Dunkhorst: What does the surname Dunkhorst mean?
The last name Dunkhorst is of German origin. It is a combination of two different words, 'Dunk' which means 'thick' and 'Horst' which means 'wooded hill'. Combined, it literally translates to 'thick hill' and would generally be associated with a densely wooded area.
The earliest records of the surname date back to the mid-1500s when one Simon van Durckhorst was the mayor of the city of Breda in the Netherlands. At the time, many Dutch and German families started to move to different areas of Europe and North America. It is likely that this particular family emigrated to the new world from the Netherlands around this time.
In the United States the name Dunkhorst has become quite rare with just over 250 people bearing the name according to the 2018 US census. However, the Dunkhorst name is very common in Germany and the Netherlands with thousands of people bearing the name. German families bearing the Dunkhorst name have been in the country since at least the 1600s.
Today, the name Dunkhorst is most likely to be found in the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands, with many families still using it today.
Order DNA origin analysisDunkhorst: Where does the name Dunkhorst come from?
The last name Dunkhorst is most commonly found in the regions that make up modern Germany, including the states of Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, and Lower Saxony. It is also scattered across the United States, especially in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and California.
The Dunkhorst family originates from the German town of the same name, located in Lower Saxony near Celle, about 50 kilometers away from Hanover. The earliest known record of the Dunkhorst family tree dates back to the year 1453, when one member of this line settled in Celle. Over the centuries, the Dunkhorst family spread out across the globe as they resettled due to war, famine, and other negative conditions they faced in Germany.
Today, the last name Dunkhorst is still fairly common in Germany, although there are smaller pockets of Dunkhorsts in the United States. Dunkhorsts are largely concentrated in larger cities like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Dunkhorsts have also been prominent figures in several arenas, including the military, academia, and business. Notable Dunkhorsts include Hans von Taube, a Prussian field marshal in the late 1700s, and Alfred Dunkhorst, an internationally renowned scientist and professor of medical research who discovered the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae in the early twentieth century.
The Dunkhorst name will likely continue to be a recognized and respected last name for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Dunkhorst
The surname Dunkhorst is derived from the German compounds Dunk (referring to someone with a beautiful, tall build) and Horst (meaning a wooded hill). Variations of this surname can include Dunkhorst, Dunkerst, Dunker, and Dongerst. In the Netherlands, this surname is commonly spelled Dunkerst.
The surnames Dunkaert, Dunker, Dunkerley, Dunkert, Dunklee, and Donkervoort are also related to the Dunkhorst surname. These surnames may have been created by orthographical errors, or by individuals attempting to obfuscate their real identities or origin.
Oftentimes surnames can be Anglicized, meaning an alteration of the spelling of surname to reflect a more local phonetic interpretation. For example, Dunkhorst may become Dunkhurst, Dunkers, Dunkersley, Dunkin, or Dunking depending on the country of origin.
Another related Dutch surname is Dunker, which is derived from the German Dunken (to dive or plunge). The Dunker surname is often found in combination with the names Akers, Hoeven, and Peeters.
There are also Dutch variants of the Dunkhorst name such as Donkelhorst, Donker, and Donkers. As well as the Low German variants of Donkerst and Dönkerst.
The Dunkhorst name is an old German name with many variants found throughout Europe. It is found in both Germany and the Netherlands, as well as other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is derived from the old German words for tall, wooded hill (dunk, horst). As such, many of the variants and spellings of this surname can be phonetically derived.
Famous people with the name Dunkhorst
- August Dunkhorst: German-American physicist and astronomer.
- Brian Dunkhorst: American football player.
- Christopher Dunkhorst: German composer and educator.
- Edmond Dunkhorst: American basketball player.
- Eugene Dunkhorst: German-American physicist and engineer.
- Harold Dunkhorst: American interdisciplinary artist and sculptor.
- Henry Dunkhorst: Dutch NFL player.
- Jack Dunkhorst: American jazz pianist.
- James Dunkhorst: English politician.
- John Dunkhorst: English film maker.
- Mark Dunkhorst: American painter and sculptor.
- Patrick Dunkhorst: South African National record holder in field hockey.
- Robert Dunkhorst: Austrian composer of wind music.
- Seán Dunkhorst: Irish businessman.
- Thomas Dunkhorst: American actor and director.
- Wilfried Dunkhorst: German-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist.