Surname Böhncke - Meaning and Origin
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Böhncke: What does the surname Böhncke mean?
Böhncke is a German surname deriving from the Middle High German given name Bühinc, which roughly translates to “whistler” or “triller” (trilling). The exact origin of this surname is found in the medieval use of nicknames given to people with distinctive attributes, as “whistler” or “triller” was likely a virtue associated with the first Böhncke. Historically, the name Böhncke has been common throughout Northern Germany, especially in the areas of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The name is one of many popular German surnames that was adopted by various waves of immigrants to the United States, where it can be found especially in the Midwestern states.
In modern times, the name Böhncke is often associated with the prominent German politician Hans-Ulrich Böhncke, who was active in the Social Democratic Party in the 1950s and 1960s. He held various governmental positions throughout this time, including serving as Minister President of Lower Saxony and President of the Bundesrat—the second chamber of the German legislature.
Additionally, the name Böhncke is still found commonly in Germany as a middle name or a last name. Today, it is seen often in Germany’s and Scandinavia’s burgeoning cities, and on people’s passports, business cards, and other official documents. So from its romantic origins, the name Böhncke lives on in the modern age.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhncke: Where does the name Böhncke come from?
The last name Böhncke is most commonly found in Germany. It is thought to have originated from an area in the state of Schleswig-Holstein near the city of Kiel. This is due to the fact that the name Böhncke has been present in that region for centuries.
The language of Schleswig-Holstein is mostly German, and so it is likely that the name originated from a German speaking family. It is also common in the surrounding regional states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also found, although less common, in Austria and Switzerland.
There are currently around 25,000 people with the last name Böhncke living in Germany, while smaller numbers can also be found in other European countries. People with family names such as Böhncke, appear to have spread across Europe from their original region of Schleswig-Holstein over the centuries.
The name Böhncke is sometimes seen in records held in other countries outside of Europe, but these tend to be the result of German immigrants settling in those countries in more recent times.
The name Böhncke is derived from the Old German word bühne, which is related to the English word booth. This suggests that the original family may have been involved in some form of trading or commerce.
Variations of the surname Böhncke
The surname Böhncke is an old German family name of north German origin. It can also be spelled Benncke and Bohneke. It is also known to occur in other German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, where it is usually spelled Bohncke.
The surname Böhncke may also appear with modifications of spelling, including variations such as Bohnke, Beenke, Bönke, Bonke, Böncke, Booneke, Boneke, Boenke, Bunke, and Büncke.
In the United States, the name is often spelled Bunke and can also be found as Buncke, Buneke, Bunkle, Bonnaeke, and Bonnake. In Sweden it is spelled Böhnk.
The origin of the name Böhncke is believed to come from the Czech/Polish word “bohaty”, meaning “wealthy”. The name was probably derived from a wealthy family who settled in the region.
Today, the surname is still common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and is also found in the US and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Böhncke have been traced to other related surnames such as Bahncke, Behncke, Bohncke, and Bohneke. These surname variants may have developed at different times and in different regions, and share a common ancestry.
The Böhncke surname dates back to the 16th century and is an example of a name that has stood the test of time. As it has been passed down from one generation to the next, they bear a shared history and ancestry that remains evident even today.
Famous people with the name Böhncke
- Dieter Böhncke (German actor)
- Erich Böhncke (German film and television director)
- Eva Böhncke (German author)
- Franz Böhncke (German entomologist and geographer)
- Günter Böhncke (German politician)
- Harald Böhncke (German art historian and curator)
- Hermann Böhncke (German physiologist)
- Klaus-Dieter Böhncke (German composer and conductor)
- Maria Böhncke (Swedish singer and songwriter)
- Max Böhncke (German media executive)
- Sabine Böhncke (German actress)
- Wolfgang Böhncke (German physicist and electrical engineer)