Surname Barkhorn - Meaning and Origin
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Barkhorn: What does the surname Barkhorn mean?
The last name Barkhorn is a German toponymic surname that originated in the region of present-day Lower Saxony. The root of the name is derived from the German term “bark” (Old High German “barc”), which can be translated to mean “horn” or “cap”. This was likely in reference to a geographical feature - such as a mountain peak - that was shaped like a horn or had a distinct peak at its highest point.
The term is thought to be related to the ancient Germanic “burg”, meaning “protective fortification”, suggesting that the ancient ancestors of those who would later bear the name Barkhorn likely lived in a region that was surrounded by such fortifications. In short, Barkhorn is a surname that is believed to refer to the ancestral home of a particular family.
Whether it ever belonged to an individual with a legendary heritage or not, the Barkhorn family has certainly maintained a proud and rich history that reaches back centuries. This history is marked by generations of upstanding citizens who have found success in a variety of fields, and the core values of loyalty, integrity, and hard work that all Barkhorn’s have come to represent are still exacerbated in today’s modern world.
Order DNA origin analysisBarkhorn: Where does the name Barkhorn come from?
The last name Barkhorn is a German surname found predominantly in the German-speaking countries of Europe. Historically, the Barkhorn name is derived from the Middle High German term “Barkeron”, which is thought to have originally referred to the occupation of barker, which was the process of collecting, storing, and curing the bark of trees for use in tanning and dyeing leather.
Today, the last name Barkhorn appears mostly in Germany, with residents carrying the name in large numbers in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt and in states such as Brandenburg, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony. This may be explained by the fact that much of the surname’s history is connected to German cities in these regions such as Berlin, Gdańsk, and Dresden.
In addition to Germany, Barkhorn is also found in countries with ties to the German language, such as Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Netherlands. It is also found in the United States and Canada, although in significantly smaller numbers (less than 1,000) than in Germany, according to rootsweb.ancestry.com. Those who carry the Barkhorn surname in the United States likely arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries from Germany or descended from German emigrants.
Overall, the Barkhorn name appears to be concentrated mainly in German-speaking countries, accounting for the bulk of people carrying the surname today.
Variations of the surname Barkhorn
The Barkhorn surname is of German origin, and has many variations. Most common variants include "Barker", "Barkner", and "Barkeran". Other variants include "Bauckhorn", "Baukorn", and "Baukehorn". Spellings that are sometimes found include "Baerckhorn" and "Berckhorn".
Other surnames have roots in the Barkhorn surname, such as the names "Barkhausen", "Berckhausen", and "Berckhause". Common variations of these names include "Barkhaus", "Berckhause", and "Berckhouse".
Barkhorn may even have been changed to "DeBarkhorn" or "Barrkhorn" during immigration to countries such as the United States. These are documented variations of the surname when immigrants had difficulty spelling or perhaps changed the name to appear more Americanized.
Finally, other surnames can be connected to Barkhorn, especially if people had the same ancestor. This can include variations such as Baker, Bayer, and Barkoff.
Famous people with the name Barkhorn
- Gerd Barkhorn: World War II fighter ace and highest scoring pilot in the history of the German Air Force.
- Wolfram Barkhorn: World War II fighter ace with 301 victories to his name.
- Hugo Barkhorn: German porcelain painter and sculptor.
- Guntram Barkhorn: German geologist, professor at the University of Marburg, and expert in Pleistocene stratigraphy.
- Torsten Barkhorn: German politician and member of the SPD from Lower Saxony.
- Malte Barkhorn: German artist and illustrator.
- Emma Barkhorn: German figure skater and competitive ice dancer.
- Stefan Barkhorn: German actor and comedian.
- Erich Barkhorn: German theater director and playwright.
- Johann Barkhorn: German botanist and dendrologist.