Surname Barankewitz - Meaning and Origin
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Barankewitz: What does the surname Barankewitz mean?
The last name Barankewitz originates from German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The most accepted explanation of the name is that it is derived from two words: “baren” meaning bear, and “Kuh” meaning cow. This suggests that the Barankewitzes may have been early farmers who used herds of bears and cows to cultivate and plow their lands.
The Barankewitz surname is relatively uncommon, but there are some with the name in the United States. It is particularly common in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. It is likely that the name was brought to America by some of the earliest German settlers.
Since its origin, the name Barankewitz has been associated with sternness and resilience. It is believed that the farming mindset of the early Barankewitzes was the inspiration for this. This trait is still seen in some of those who hold the name today, although not to the same extent, as the name has been through many generations of intermarriage.
The meaning of the name reflects the determination and strength of the Barankewitzes, and it is a reminder of the hard work it took for their ancestors to build a successful life for them.
Order DNA origin analysisBarankewitz: Where does the name Barankewitz come from?
The last name Barankewitz is most commonly found today in Germany and Western Europe. In Germany there are roughly 2,250 people who carry the surname, and in the United States, the surname is found in small pockets in the midwest and northeast regions.
Germany is the root of the name with records showing its origin starting in the 1700s in the town of Hohenseefeld. By the early 1800s the family started to expand their roots outside of Hohenseefeld, and records began to appear in other German regions.
Many people with the Barankewitz surname immigrated to the United States in the 19th century. Popular entry points were found in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and descendants can be found today in various parts of the United States, including New Jersey, Minnesota and Colorado.
Outside of Germany and the United States, the surname can be found in other parts of Europe in countries such as France, Spain and the Netherlands.
Although the Barankewitz surname is generally low in population worldwide, records going back centuries show a clear origin for this surname, and its current spread in Germany and Europe demonstrate the far-reaching influence of generations of the Barankewitz family.
Variations of the surname Barankewitz
The surname Barankewitz is fairly rare in the English-speaking world, and has its origins in Old Germanic. However, there are many variants, spellings and surnames that are derived from this surname.
The most obvious variant is Barankewicz, where "cz" is spelled with a "c" to differentiate it from the Polish spelling. This variant is especially prevalent in Polish and Russian speaking countries.
Other variants include Barankiewicz, Baranczewski, Boranczewski, Beranczewski, Berankewicz, Verbanczewski and Verankewicz.
Surnames that are derived from Barankewitz include Baranek, Baranoczki, Baranczyk, Barankoff, Beranko, Baranczykiewicz, Verbanczyk, Barankiewicz and Barbarkewitz. This is not an exhaustive list, as other derivations and variants exist.
In addition to regional variants and surnames derived from Barankewitz, there are also variations on the spelling of the surname itself, such as Barankevitz and Barankevitzy.
The common theme among most of the variants discussed herein is the incorporation of the "K" sound into the surname, which is derived from the Germanic origin of the word. For instance, the Polish spelling of the surname is Barankewicz, where the "K" sound is replaced with a "CZ" to better fit the pronunciation of the language.
Overall, the surname Barankewitz is not particularly common, but it has numerous variants, spellings and derivations that may be encountered in different regions of the world. It is also worth noting that there is no single, agreed upon pronunciation of the surname, as even the variants discussed previously have slightly different pronunciations.
Famous people with the name Barankewitz
- Myles Barankewitz: An American actor, known for his roles in films such as “21 Jump Street” and “The Devil’s Advocate”.
- Jeff Barankewitz: An Australian professional skateboarder and owner of the famous skateboard company, Slumdog Skateboarding.
- Mati Barankewitz: An Israeli basketball coach, having coached professionally since the 1990s.
- Tom Barankewitz: An American photographer known for his award-winning photojournalism.
- Cara Barankewitz: An American journalist, television presenter, and radio talk show host.
- Abra Barankewitz: An Israeli Olympic diver, having competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Raul Barankewitz: A Brazilian journalist, he is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Folha de São Paulo newspaper.
- John Barankewitz: An American comedian, actor, and television host, best known for his work on the popular comedy show “Saturday Night Live”.
- Anna Barankewitz: An American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for her work in the folk music scene.
- Zack Barankewitz: An American tennis player, having competed professionally since the late 2000s.