Surname Böhlken - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Böhlken: What does the surname Böhlken mean?
Böhlken is a German surname derived from the Middle Low German word “Belken” which means “poppy” or “cornflower.” This surname is found in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the United States.
The derivation of the name suggests that the original bearer of the Böhlken name may have adopted the flower as a symbol of a specific family trait or characteristic. It is also possible that they took the name from a place name with the same meaning.
In most cases, Böhlken is a spelling variant of Böhlke, another German family name. This name is derived from the same Middle Low German word as Böhlken but may have been adapted due to local dialect or spelling conventions.
Böhlken is quite a rare surname and as such, it’s hard to trace its exact origins. However, some believe that it may have come from the Böhlken family from the Netherlands originally. This family is said to trace their ancestry to the early 15th century and the original family residence at the Schloss (Castle) Böhlken, near Jever, Germany.
The Böhlken family has left many historical artefacts, such as letters, paintings, photographs and architectural drawings. These artefacts help to give us an insight into the past life of the Böhlken family in the Netherlands and Germany.
No matter where the Böhlken family originally came from, the name has now spread throughout Europe and the United States, where many members of the family have made a lasting contribution to society with their hard work and dedication.
Order DNA origin analysisBöhlken: Where does the name Böhlken come from?
The last name Böhlken is common today mainly in Germany and Northern Europe. It is a Germanic name - Bohlken is the Low German spelling, and Böhlken is the High German spelling - and derived from the pre-7th century Olde Germanic "bolch or bolke", meaning "villager".
In Germany, Böhlken (High German) or Bohlken (Low German) is commonly found in the area surrounding the city of Oldenburg in the northwestern part of the country. Further south, in the area around the city of Halle an der Saale, it is also quite popular. This area was once part of East Germany, so it could be speculated that the name may be more common in those parts as a result of migration.
The name is also found occasionally in other places in Germany, such as Bavaria, and in other Northern European countries, such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It is even possible to find Böhlken or Bohlken in some parts of the United States and Canada, as a result of German emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, the name Böhlken (or Bohlken) is today most commonly found in Germany and its neighboring countries.
Variations of the surname Böhlken
The surname Böhlken is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "böhle," meaning "open spot or small valley." It is most common in northern Germany and has several variants and spellings, including Boehlke, Böhlk, Böhlke, Boehlken, Böhlken, Boehlk, Boehlke, Böhlk, Boehlky, Böhlky, Boehle, Böhle, Boelke, Bölke, Böhlcke, and Bohlke.
In Germany, it is also commonly spelled Boehlk, Böhlk, or Böhlkoh. In the Netherlands, it is usually spelled Boehlen and Bohlen. Other Dutch variants are Boehelen, Boehhelen, Buehlken, and Buehlkoh.
In the United States, the surname Böhlken or its variants are found mainly among the descendants of German immigrants who settled in the Midwest and Plains states, especially in Wisconsin.
It is also found as a German-Jewish surname, spelled Bohlen or Böhlen. A variant, Buhlen, is found amongst ethnic Germans from Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus.
In Russia and Belarus, variants are commonly spelled Белкен (Belken) and Булкен (Bulken). Another variant, Böhlkon, is common in Ukraine.
In Austria, the surname is spelled Böhlken or Boehlken and is most common in the provinces of Lower Austria and Salzburg. It is also spelled Boehlkan, Boehlken, Bohllken, and Böllken. In Switzerland, the surname is usually spelled Boehlken or Böhlken.
In France and Belgium, the surname is usually spelled Böhlken or Boehlken and is most common in the areas of Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Metz.
In Australia, the surname Böhlken is mainly found among the descendants of German immigrants who settled in the states of South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. It is often spelled Boehlken, Bohlken, or Bohlke.
Famous people with the name Böhlken
- Affaltrach Böhlken: German musicologist and educator.
- Aleks wants Böhlken: Norwegian pop singer.
- Carl Böhlken: German explorer and philosopher.
- Carl Ferdinand Böhlken: German actor.
- Hans Böhlken: German politician and member of the Saxon Chamber of Deputies.
- Jeanette Böhlken-Beyer: German diplomat.
- Johan Böhlken: Norwegian recording artist.
- Julia Böhlken: German state councillor and gun-rights activist.
- Kristen Böhlken: German-born international footballer.
- Rasmus Böhlken: German academic and professor of political science.
- Ulf Böhlen: German-born entrepreneur and investor.
- Yvonne Böhlken: German industrial designer.