Surname Boehncke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Boehncke: What does the surname Boehncke mean?
The last name Boehncke is of German origin. It is believed to have originated in the late Middle Ages, primarily in the Rhineland area of Germany. The name was derived from the Middle High German words "Böhnke" or "Bönke" which meant "little-bone". This likely refers to someone who was of short or slight stature. The name could also have been used to denote a person who was a cooper, which commonly was a trade among the peasant class at the time.
The Boehncke surname is most commonly found in Germany, although it also has existed in Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands. It is thought to have originally been spelled Böhnken or Böhnker, which were both common in the Low Countries during the seventeenth and eighteen centuries.
The Boehncke name is quite common throughout Germany and it is likely that most people with this surname are descended from the same patriarch. However, it is possible that families with similar spellings could ultimately be descended from different branches of the same family. Research into genealogical records may help answer this question and confirm family trees.
The Boehncke surname has spread throughout Europe since its development, and is now common across many different countries. It was also popular among immigrants to the United States, particularly in the mid-1800s, with large numbers of Boehncke arriving in the Midwestern US states during this time.
Order DNA origin analysisBoehncke: Where does the name Boehncke come from?
The last name Boehncke is most commonly associated with Germany, and is generally believed to have originated in the north and northwestern regions of the country. The name is derived from 'buehnke', a variant of 'Böhncke' - a noun meaning 'marsh', which likely refers to someone living in an area with this characteristic. Boehncke is still a popular surname in Germany today, especially in the northern states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
It can also be found in some areas of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and even Canada, as well as in certain parts of the United States where German immigrants settled. The most common spelling in the US is 'Bohneke', the Americanized version of the name. In modern records, individuals bearing the Boehncke surname are primarily found in Washington, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota.
The Boehncke name is often linked to the Boehncke family of Berlin, a prominent line of German-Danish ancestry. They were influential nobles and merchants in the 1600s, holding a high regard among the German nobility. Today, many of their descendants still carry on the Boehncke name, not only in Germany but also around the world.
Variations of the surname Boehncke
The surname Boehncke originates from the German word "bühnaken" which means woodcutter or charcoal burner. The Boehncke surname comes in many different variants and spellings. In some cases, the "B" in Boehncke may be capitalized or converted to an upper or lowercase "b," and the "oe" may be rendered as "ö" or "Ö", as in Böhncke or Böhnck. Other variants and spellings of the Boehncke surname include Bühncke, Bühnck, Bühnke, Bünick, Buhncke, Buhnke, Behncke, Böhncken, Böhnken, Behenke, Behencke, Bohneke, Bohnecke, Bohnecher, gencke, gencke, Böhning, Böhncke, Böhnke, Böhnken, Böhnklein, Böhnkenstern, and other variations.
Some other surnames of the same origin include Bannecke, Bahne, Bähncke, Binne, Bühnchen, Bohne, Bohnecke, Böhnk, Böhncke und Böhning.
The origins of the Boehncke surname are often confused with other similar, yet unrelated surnames, such as Bunge and Bonneke. Despite differences in spelling, the surnames are not related.
The Boehncke surname is found mostly in Northern Germany, as it is an old German surname. It is also found in other parts of Europe, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Belgium, and Hungary, as well as in the US and Canada.
Famous people with the name Boehncke
- Max Boehncke: Max Boehncke is a German actor. He is known for his roles in films such as Stolz und Vorurteil (2009), Im Angesicht des Verbrechens (2010), and Mein süßer Nachbar (2013).
- Charles Boehncke: Charles Boehncke is a prominent French actor and director. He is best known for directing films such as La Belle et la Bête (1957), The Longest Day (1962) and Captain Blood (1975).
- Olaf Boehncke: Olaf Boehncke is a German politician and member of the Bundestag. He is the spokesman on energy and climate change for the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
- Oliver Boehncke: Oliver Boehncke is a German-British fashion designer. He is the founder and creative director of Danish fashion brand Nudie Jeans.
- Elsie Boehncke: Elsie Boehncke is an Australian actress and director. She is best known for her roles in films such as Guerrilla (1966), Highroller (1971) and The White Mora (2007).
- Ulrich Boehncke: Ulrich Boehncke is a German television presenter and actor, best known for presenting shows on ZDF such as Aktueller Bericht, Heyne liest and Quiz Duell.
- Hildegard Boehncke: Hildegard Boehncke is a German historian. She is the author of books such as German Executive Looks Back: The Memoirs of Rudolf Schlicte 1913 to 1967 (2011) and Herrschaften der Ideen: Wissenschaft als Kulturform (2015).