Surname Barkemeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Barkemeyer: What does the surname Barkemeyer mean?
The last name Barkemeyer is of German origin and is derived from the two words "Bark" and "Meyer," meaning 'a person who lives near an birch tree'. Thus, the surname was likely originally given to someone living near a birch tree, and could have been adopted by families living in areas where birch trees were prominent.
In German, the word Barke translates to "birch, birch tree, or a homestead near a birch tree." The root word of Meyer is derived from the Low German word Meyr, which translates to "Mayor, steward of lands, foreman, farmer, laborer, or a variant of Meier meaning 'a man of prominence having authority over land or workers'.
The Barkemeyer surname is an occupational surname, meaning that it is associated with a profession or craft. It could refer to people who worked in a birch forest, or members of a family living near a birch tree. Alternatively, it could also refer to people who held important positions in the local government or civic administration.
In age-old records, the surname appears under various spellings, such as Barkemeijer and Barkenmeyer, supporting the explanation of the origin of the Barkemeyer surname. In modern times, the surname is found mainly in Germany, the Netherlands and North America. Today, people with the surname Barkemeyer commonly identify themselves as German or Dutch.
Order DNA origin analysisBarkemeyer: Where does the name Barkemeyer come from?
The last name Barkemeyer is most common today in Germany. According to a ranking prepared by the genealogical association of Germany (Verein für Computergenealogie) this last name is ranked 10th out of all German last names. The name is most concentrated in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia, where it is the 4th and 15th most common last name respectively. Other concentrations of Barkemeyer in Germany can be found in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. Outside of Germany, the last name is found in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and the United States, mainly in areas where German emigrants settled. Barkemeyer is also found in Swedish records, suggesting it may have been brought by German immigrants. In the United States, the last name is most common in Missouri, but is also found in other states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, California, and New York. According to the 2000 US Census, Barkemeyer was the 6053rd most common US last name, with 355 individuals bearing the name.
Variations of the surname Barkemeyer
The Barkemeyer surname is a German name, with variations in spelling such as Barkmeyer, Barkmeijer, Barkmeyer, Barkemaijer, Barkemeijer, Berkemeijer, and Berkemey. These spelling variations indicate that the origins of the Barkemeyer surname stretch from the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.
In Germany, the surname may have originated as a location-based name, denoting someone who originally lived in or near a place named Barkmayer, which refers to either a type of burned earth (Barkmeyer) or a stream that was in the area (Barkenmeyer).
In the Netherlands, the variation "Barkemeijer" refers to someone who came from the village "Barkemey" in the Noord-Brabant region. The same Dutch variation is also found in Denmark, indicating that Dutch families emigrated there in the early days of the Barkemeyer surname.
The variations of Barkemeyer are further used as patronymic surnames by a variety of families, suggesting the commonality of the surname among different regions and countries. For instance, the patronymic variation ‘van Barkemeijer’ is predominantly found in the Netherlands, while Berkemeyer is more commonly seen in northwest Germany.
The Barkemeyer spelling of the surname has also been anglicized over time, with common modern English spellings being Berkemeyer and Barkmeyer.
Famous people with the name Barkemeyer
- Patrik Barkemeyer: German basketball player
- André Barkemeyer: German actor
- Rebecca Barkemeyer: German voice-over artist
- Paul Barkemeyer: German music producer
- Michael Barkemeyer: German former footballer
- Max Barkemeyer: German racing driver
- Johannes Barkemeyer: German dj
- Isabel Barkemeyer: German singer
- Marc Barkemeyer: German retired footballer
- Monique Barkemeyer: Dutch doctor and professor of clinical physiopathology at LUMC