Surname Burkhard - Meaning and Origin
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Q. Burkhard
read moreBurkhard: What does the surname Burkhard mean?
The last name Burkhard is an occupational surname and is thought to come from the Old German words, “burc” and “hard”, meaning “fort” or “stronghold” and “hard” or “brave” respectively. It is likely that the Burkhard surname originated from a nickname for someone with great strength or courage.
The Burkhard surname is first seen in documented records in the twelfth century. From then on it has developed small phonetic and spelling variations. Examples of these variations include: Burchard, Bergkhardt, Birgerhard, and Birkart.
The surname is particularly popular in the German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. It also appears in mapped records in Bern, Switzerland. Additionally, several individual named Burckardt appear in various records of origin from Brandenburg, Prussia.
Today, the majority of people with the surname live in Germany. It is also seen in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The last name Burkhard is indicative of a strong and brave individual and has been well represented throughout the centuries by people of various nationalities.
Order DNA origin analysisBurkhard: Where does the name Burkhard come from?
The last name Burkhard is most commonly found in German-speaking countries today. It is believed to have originated in Bavaria, and was spread primarily through migrations of silversmiths during the Middle Ages. The name is quite rare, as it currently ranks as the 2,147th most popular surname in Germany.
The Burkhard surname can also be found in Austria, with around 545 citizens bearing the name. There are smaller clusters of the Burkhard name in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, and Czech Republic.
In the United States, the Burkhard name is found primarily in the states of California, Pennsylvania, and Texas. However, many of the popular cities in the U.S with the name are often localized to the East and Midwest regions, such as Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
The majority of people with this surname are of Germanic heritage, with the surname likely derived from the German word “burk”, meaning “protection”. The variant spellings of the name include Burhard, Burkhart, Berkhard, and Burkhardt.
Variations of the surname Burkhard
The surname Burkhard is of German origin and can have various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. These variant spellings, surname variations, and surnames of the same origin include:
1. Burkhardt
2. Burkhard
3. Berghard
4. Burchard
5. Burcharts
6. Burchart
7. Burkhar
8. Berkhart
9. Birkhardt
10. Burkhart
11. Bergheert
12. Bergheerd
13. Burgard
14. Burgart
15. Burkart
16. Burkard
17. Burkert
Burkhart is the most popular variant of the Burkhard surname, and is the basis for many alternate spellings of the same surname. This name originates from the words 'burg' which means 'fortress' and 'hard' which refers to brave or hardy. The variants of this surname refer to the fortified mountain homes of the ancestors of this surname.
The name Berghard is also a recognized variant and originated as a nickname for a mountain dweller. The variants Burchard, Burcharts, and Burchart were derived from the Middle High German word 'burchard' which translates to 'a protected prison'. The variants Berkhart and Birkhardt were likely taken from the Germanic personal name Berahard.
The surnames Burgard, Burgart, and Burkart likely derived from the Old German and Middle High German words of 'burg' which means fortress and 'hart' which means brave or hardy. The variant Burgheerd is another form of the same name and is derived from the words 'berg' meaning mountain and 'heerd' meaning strength or courage. Lastly, the variation Burkard is likely derived from the Old High German words 'burg' meaning fortress and 'hard' meaning brave or hardy.
Famous people with the name Burkhard
- Dominik Burkhard: a French actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter.
- Stephen Burkhard: a former television executive and producer.
- John Burkhard: an American fantasy roleplaying designer and game developer.
- Elijah Burkhard: an American photographer and mediamaker.
- Fabian Burkhard: a Swiss footballer currently playing for FC St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League.
- Dieter Burkhard: a Swiss cross-country skier who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics.
- Johannes Burkhard: a German artist known for his ornamental and jewelry-style silversmithing.
- Kai Burkhard: a German television announcer, journalist, and political commentator.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Burkhard: a German classical architect in the late 18th century.
- Alexander Burkhard: a Swiss tennis player competing mainly on the ITF Futures and Challenger tournaments.