Surname Böckh - Meaning and Origin
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Böckh: What does the surname Böckh mean?
The last name Böckh is a German name that belongs to the Nordic paternality group. It originates from Middle High German “bock”, meaning “buck". It was an occupational name for someone involved in the rearing of deer or a nickname for someone with a fierce or stubborn temperament.
There are different variants of the surname throughout Europe including Beck, Bek, Bach, Bock, Back and Beckh. It is common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Northern France, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. It is basically an occupational surname for deer herder, hunter or someone brave enough to capture animals in the wild.
The first recorded spelling of the surname was in 1553 when Hans Bock appeared in the list of Qurinald des teutschen Nation in Tirol. The last name appears in historical records as early as the 16th century, where it is found in tax records. It also appears in the heraldry records of the region, where it is noted that several members of this family were renowned hunters and trackers.
The name Böckh is a proud reminder of the bravery and hard work of those that have borne it throughout the centuries, from the deer-herding hunters of old to the modern-day descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisBöckh: Where does the name Böckh come from?
The last name Böckh is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria. It is derived from the Middle High German word böke, which was used to refer to a woodcutter or charcoal burner. Böckh was initially a nickname given to someone who was associated with this trade.
The first written record of the Böckh name dates back to 1243 when a man named Herdener den Böcken (Herdener the woodcutter) was named in a document claiming ownership of some cows in Hanover, Germany.
In modern times, the Böckh family originated from the Halberstadt area in Germany. Records from 1520 show that a family named Böckh were living in the nearby town of Oschersleben. Today, this area is still known for its numerous Böckh relatives.
The Böckh name is also found in many other places. In Russia, for example, there were 295 people with the name Böckh in the census of 1910. In the United States, there were 9 people with the name Böckh in the last recorded census.
The Böckh last name is a testament to the Germanic roots of many contemporary families. Although a centuries-old tradition, the Böckh name is still found today in regions stretching from Germany to the United States.
Variations of the surname Böckh
The surname Böckh is an old German/ Prussian name originating from the Old High German word boc meaning a male goat. As such, the surname can take on a number of spellings and variants.
Common variations on the spelling of Böckh include Boeck, Bock, Boeckh, Boek, Boeke, Booge, Boch, Böch, Boech, Boke, Böke, Boikes, Böikes, Boock, Böck, Böckmann and Bockmann.
The spelling and transcription of the surname has changed over time and the name can be found in many countries and regions outside Germany. As such, there are a number of different versions of the surname in countries where it may have originated from German immigrants. In the Netherlands, the surname offer common spellings such as ‘Boeck’, ‘Boek’’ and ‘Booge’, while in France it may be found as ‘Boch’ or ‘Borckh’. In the British Isles, the surname may appear as ‘Bock’, ‘Boeck’ or ‘Buck’. In the United States, it may appear as ‘Beck’, ‘Bock’, ‘Boeck’, or ‘Buck’.
In addition to the various spellings of the surname, it is also considered a patronymic surname, meaning that it is derived from the name of the original bearer's father. The patronymic form of the surname Böckh is Bockhauer. This means that the names ‘Bockhauwer’, ‘Böckhauer’ and ‘Böckhauwer’ are all surnames derived from the original surname Böckh.
The surname Böckh is an ancient and varied surnam, one which has undergone a variety of changes in its spelling and regional variants over the centuries. Its origins in the Old High German word boc still remain present today, however, and will likely continue to affect its evolution for years to come.
Famous people with the name Böckh
- August Böckh (1785-1867): German classical philologist and archaeologist.
- Albert Böckh (1785–1867): German educator, pedagog and writer.
- Hermann Böckh (1802-1860): German historian, specialist in Germanic and ancient history.
- Friedrich Böckh (1857-1934): German classical philologist, teacher and research scholar.
- August Böckh-Fischer (1869-1942): German painter and graphic artist.
- Reinhard Böckh (1917-2009): German newspaper editor and politically active Protestant theologian.
- Marcus Böckh (born 1953): Swiss actor.
- Danilo Böckh (born 1964): German photographer, author and creative director.
- Eric Böckh (born 1968): German sculptor, painter and installation artist.
- Marika Böckh (born 1980): German-American actress and singer.