Surname Bangratz - Meaning and Origin
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Bangratz: What does the surname Bangratz mean?
The last name Bangratz is of German origin, and is primarily found in Germany. It is derived from the German word "bangrat", which roughly translates to "hillside with vineyards". This surname likely originated from a family who lived on a hill with vineyards, or were involved in some type of winemaking.
The many generations of Bangratz have come to represent more than just a literal holding of vineyards. It has come to represent resilience, hard work, and determination. Those with the surname would have had to work hard on the land in order to cultivate grapes, sow the land, and make their livelihood out of vineyards. This is a testament to the perseverance of the Bangratz family and their commitment to tilling the land for many unique products.
Bangratz is not a particularly common surname, but it is one with a strong cultural legacy. It stands for the generations of families who have passed down hard work and resilience through their bloodlines, and forged a lasting impact in the German landscape.
Order DNA origin analysisBangratz: Where does the name Bangratz come from?
The last name Bangratz is most commonly found today in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically Germany, Austria, and Poland. It began as a surname among Jewish people of Central and Eastern Europe, where it is most predominantly used. The surname traces its roots from the Hebrew term "ben Gershon," which translates as "son of Gershon." It is believed to have originally been given to the male descendants of Gershon ben Levi, one of the sons of the biblical organization the Tribe of Levi.
Throughout Europe, the spelling of the surname varies depending on dialect. In Polish, it is spelled "Bangratz," while in German the spelling is "Bengrass." Though less common, it also appears in its Americanised form, "Bengross," which emphasizes the final "s" sound.
In the United States, the first recorded use of the surname Bangratz was in 1895, when Jacob Bangratz was recorded as an immigrant in Illinois. In the United Kingdom, the last name first appeared in the 1881 census, where Benjamin and Sarah Bangratz were recorded in London.
Overall, the Bangratz surname is still commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe. Though in different parts of Europe and America it is spelled differently, the name is thought to originate from a single source.
Variations of the surname Bangratz
The surname Bangratz is derived from the Middle High German word “bangrac”, meaning “to beat” or “strike”. It is likely that the original owner of the surname was involved in some form of battle or conflict. It may also refer to someone who was viewed as a powerful individual in their community.
Variants of this surname include Banghart, Banneck, Bankart, Bankhardt, and Bangardt. These are all variants of the original spelling of Bangratz.
In addition to the variants of the name Bangratz, there are some other surnames which share similar spellings and meanings which are linked to the original. These include Bancroft, Bangford, Bankard, Binkert, and Bongford.
The surnames Bangratz, Banghart, Banneck, Bankart, Bankhardt, and Bangardt can all be traced back to an original spelling of Bangratz. While they all have slight variations in spelling and meaning, they all refer to someone who was involved in battle and/or seen as powerful in their community. The variations of these names may have derived from dialectal variations in the English language or from slight regional differences in pronunciation.
Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Bancroft, Bangford, Bankard, Binkert, and Bongford. All of these surnames share similar spellings and meanings, thus placing them under the same origin.
Overall, the surname Bangratz has multiple variants and spellings of the same origin, all based on the Middle High German word bangrac.
Famous people with the name Bangratz
- John Bangratz: Television news anchor and radio broadcaster in the 1970s and 80s.
- Deborah Bangratz: American pop music singer and songwriter. She is best known for her hit single “Hollywood” in the late 70s.
- Chris Bangratz: Former Major League Baseball player with the San Francisco Giants. He was also a coach at the college level.
- David Bangratz: Award-winning special effects artist and inventor who worked on many well-known feature films.
- Richard Bangratz: Actor and comedian, best known for his roles on television series such as “Friends”, “Seinfeld”, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Frasier”.
- Brad Bangratz: Award winning country musician from Kentucky, best known for his chart topping single “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”.
- Tom Bangratz: Composer and musician, known for his work scoring many of the classic films of the early 20th century.
- Sarah Bangratz: Revolutionary War nurse, one of the first women to serve in the American military.
- Douglas Bangratz: Grand Ole Opry fiddle player in the 1960s and 70s, performing with artists such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash.
- Barbara Bangratz: Businesswoman and philanthropist, co-founder of the organization “Life Without Limits”, which provides education to children in need.