Surname Böhringer - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling Roots: How My DNA Test Connected Me to the Böhringers and Rewove My Self-Understanding

As a descendant of the Böhringer clan, a DNA test provided me valuable insights about my ancestral heritage. Discovering traces of both Germanic and Slavic lineage reshaped my perception of my identity, sense of belonging, and source of personal resilience.

U. Böhringer

Böhringer: What does the surname Böhringer mean?

The last name Böhringer is of German origin and is thought to have derived from the Middle High German word “bürger” (or “burges”) meaning “citizen” or “freeman.” It is thought to have been adopted in the 15th century as a status name for someone who was a resident in a town or village, or one who held certain legal rights and obligations.

The surname Böhringer is common throughout Germany, but is most prevalent in its southern regions. It is also found in many areas of the United States, particularly among those of German background.

The family name Böhringer is thought to be linked to a variety of other surnames, including Beringer, Böhrener, Böhriger, Bühringer, Bühringer, and Böhring.

While it is not known exactly when the earliest Böhringers first arrived in Germany, the name has been found in records as far back as the late 15th century. One example is of one Martin Böhringer who is recorded in a 1380 document in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.

Today, the last name Böhringer is widely used throughout Germany and the United States to refer to families who trace their ancestry back to 16th century Germany. It is a reminder of a shared history and a sense of family heritage that connects modern-day Böhringer’s to their long-ago ancestors.

Böhringer: Where does the name Böhringer come from?

The last name Böhringer is common today in Germany. It is primarily found in the south and southwest of the country, especially in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Thuringia. It is not a particularly frequent surname, with around 14,000 individuals having it in Germany as of 2019.

This frequency is mostly due to the fact that the surname is derived from the city of Böhringen in northern Baden-Württemberg, where it was associated with a prominent family. This family was first mentioned as Burincher in a document from 1154, and their descendants took on the surname Böhringer in the 14th and 15th centuries.

This same family is recorded as having owned Matzenberg castle, located in the Ostalb district of Baden-Württemberg, since the 15th century. Descendants of this family today are active in politics, academia, and business in both Germany and abroad.

Outside of Germany, the surname Böhringer can be found in a few other countries today, particularly in Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. The majority of these people are likely to be descended from emigrants from Germany during the past two centuries. For example, Guido Böhringer became the first NFL player to be drafted directly from a European football league in 2016, hailing from Germany himself.

Variations of the surname Böhringer

The surname Böhringer is an old German family name that originated in the early medieval period and is derived from the German noble name Böhring. Variants and spellings of the same origin include Behring, Boehring, Bering, Böring, Böhringer, Böernger, Berring, Beringer, Behrung and Beering.

In some cases, the surname may be found spelled differently in various countries and regions, depending on the various languages and their alphabetical systems. For example, the surname is sometimes written as Bohringer in modern German or Böhringer, depending on its origin. Other spellings of the surname are Böhringer, Böhrhringer, Bör rings, Behrings, Böhruns, Beeringer, Bürrings and Behringers.

There are also some surnames derived from the base name ‘Böhringer’, such as Böhringerhoff, Böhringerwald, Böhringhof and Böhringshof. Other variants of the surname include Bohring, Bohringer, Bohringerhof, Boringer, Boering, and Borrings.

In the United States, the surname Böhringer is quite uncommon. Of those with the surname, most are German Americans, though some have French, Scottish, and Irish heritage as well. Many families with this surname have been staunchly traditionalist, making it difficult to trace records of the surname back to its Germanic roots.

The surname can also be found in Canada, where some of the earliest bearers of the name, Johann Böhringer and Christoph Böhringer, were recorded in the 17th century. As with its American counterpart, the Canadian variation of the surname can also be spelled differently, such as Böring, Borringe, Behring, Bähring, Behringer and Beringer, among others.

Famous people with the name Böhringer

• Marcus Böhringer: German rugby union player
• Antonio Böhringer: Acclaimed Brazilian chef
• Maximilian Böhringer: Renowned German philosopher
• Georg Böhringer: Award-winning artist
• Nadja Böhringer: Internationally acclaimed violinist
• Chtistopher Böhringer: German football player
• Marion Böhringer: Professional photographer
• Robert Böhringer: Award-winning poet and writer
• Fredrick Böhringer: Acclaimed German architect
• Elisabeth Böhringer: Renowned German playwright

Other surnames

Böhring