Surname Bösefeld - Meaning and Origin

Bösefeld: What does the surname Bösefeld mean?

The last name Bösefeld is a German surname originating from Bavaria. In German, "Böse" or "Böser" translates to "evil," while "Feld" translates to "field." Thus, Bösefeld can be interpreted to mean a "field of evil," signifying a location, either literal or figurative, that is particularly foreboding or treacherous.

The literal interpretation might refer to a west Bavarian region known for the misery it brought to its inhabitants, whether through natural disasters or manmade terrors. The historically agrarian region might have had a dark reputation due to the fact that it did not yield good crops or lacked the resources for inhabitants to achieve a comfortable standard of living.

The figurative interpretation of the name might refer to "evil-doers," people who have done wrong and caused trouble in one way or another. Family members with this surname may have been ancestors with unsavory reputations, perhaps due to their proclivity for criminal or unethical activities.

It is possible that this surname originated from a combination of the two interpretations. The name Bösefeld could have been given to a geographical location because it was a hotbed for crime, and with time, it became associated with an individual descendant of such a region who was deemed particularly "evil" or reckless.

Whichever interpretation of the name one chooses, it is a reminder of the negative traits that humans are capable of exhibiting, whether it be through unsavory action, or a training ground for those very actions. The last name Bösefeld is an unsettling moniker, indeed.

Bösefeld: Where does the name Bösefeld come from?

The last name Bösefeld is common today in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is particularly concentrated in northern Germany, where it is one of the top hundred most common surnames.

The origin of the name is believed to derive from a place name. This was first recorded in 1364 as Buwessenvelthin, which translates literally to "evil/bad/ wicked field". This is believed to refer to an area of marshland or wetlands, similar to many other ancient place names in Germany which refer to difficult and inhospitable terrain.

The word Böse (evil/bad/wicked) became an accepted part of the surname, and its spelling evolved over time variant spellings. By 1810, the spelling Bösefeld had become the most common in German-speaking regions.

The Bösefeld surname is concentrated in northern Germany, particularly in Westphalia and Lower Saxony. It is not recorded elsewhere in the world, suggesting that those bearing the surname are largely descended from immigrants from Germanic countries.

Variations of the surname Bösefeld

The surname Bösefeld is a German topographic name for someone who lived near a place where boughs were felled for timber, derived from the Middle High German word “bosenfalt” meaning “place where boughs are felled”. This surname can be found throughout Germany and surrounding nations such as Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Variants of the name include: Boesefeld, Bosefeld, Boesefeldt, Bosefeldt, Boesefeld, Boesefeldt, Bosfeld, Bosfeldt, Bosfelde, Bosefel and Bosefield. Spellings of the surname may also be adapted to local languages and dialects causing additional variations.

There are two additional related surnames that stem from different origins. The name Boseff is of Yiddish origin, derived from the personal name Bosye. The surname Böser is derived from the noun “böse” meaning “evil” and could have been a nickname given to an ill-tempered person.

Despite minor variations in spelling and sound, all variants and related surnames are ultimately derived from the same root word. As such, a person who identifies with the Bösefeld surname today can trace their ancestry back to a common origin, regardless of minor spelling variations.

Famous people with the name Bösefeld

• Henry Bösefeld: former German footballer who was highly successful in the 1970s and 80s.
• Pierre Bösefeld: French basketball legend and Olympic gold-medal winner.
• Heinrich Bösefeld: German advocate and physiologist who was one of the pioneers of modern medical research and is credited with numerous discoveries in his field.
• Andrea Bösefeld: Austrian swimmer specialising in breaststroke who won several national championships and was on the Austrian Olympic team.
• Maria Bösefeld: German concert pianist whose performances of Romantic and contemporary repertoire were widely acclaimed.
• Rudolf Bösefeld: German philosopher, literary critic and historian who is best known for his works on the subject of world religions.
• Ines Bösefeld: German opera singer and international recording artist.
• Evelyn Bösefeld: German journalist, author and filmmaker whose work focussed primarily on issues of poverty and social justice.
• Horst Bösefeld: German-American anatomist and histologist whose contributions to anatomy remain highly respected today.
• Tim Bösefeld: German composer and electronic musician whose work often combined elements of classical and modern styles.

Other surnames

Bösefeldt