Surname Bulling - Meaning and Origin
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Bulling: What does the surname Bulling mean?
The last name Bulling is believed to have its roots in either English or German origin. In English, it was derived from the Old English pre 7th century word bylling meaning "an inhabitant of Billing," a place near Northampton, and the Middle Low German word bullin meaning "low-lying land near a river or marsh," to possibly mean "dweller by the marshy land."
In England, the name Bulling originated in southwest county of Essex, where people originated from the Billing place in the early medieval period. The Bulling family then spread to all areas of Britain.
In terms of its German origin, Bulling was derived from the Middle Low German word bullin, meaning “low-lying land near a river or marsh.” It is believed that the Bulling family were settlers from areas around Germany, such as Bavaria, Austria and the Netherlands, who came to Britain at the time of the Protestant Reformation.
Today, the Bulling surname is most common in England, but can also be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and also Australia and the United States.
Regardless of the origin of the name, those with the Bulling surname are generally associated with being an honest hard worker and someone who is generous with their time and resources.
Order DNA origin analysisBulling: Where does the name Bulling come from?
The last name Bulling is most commonly found in Germany. It is an occupational name, coming from the Middle High German word "bullinge" meaning "farmer". Bulling is mainly concentrated in the south and south-west of Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. It can also be found in other parts of Germany, as well as Switzerland and Austria.
The surname Bulling is an uncommon name, but has been around since at least medieval times. Records of the name can be found from the early 13th century, when families bearing the name had already settled in southwestern Germany. The name Bulling has given rise to several place names, including Bullingen in Germany and Bullion in France.
Bulling families can be found scattered around the world, and the name is included in the US Census Bureau's list of most popular surnames. In recent years, the Bullings have spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking countries, due to immigration and emigration.
Today, Bulling is one of the top 500 surnames in the United States, and one of the top 250 in Germany. While the name is relatively common in Germany and the United States, it is rare elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Bulling
The surname Bulling has different spellings and variations. It is considered to be an Anglo-Saxon name and originates from the Old English word meaning 'bull'.
The variants of Bulling include Bullen, Bullein, Bullain, Bullinger, Bullin, Bullinger, Bullan, Bullains, Bullinger, Bullings, Bullington, and Bollingsworth.
Bullen is a common spelling. It originated as a topographical name for someone who lived in or near a valley or hollow, from the Old English pre-7th century "Bulla", meaning "hollow". Other variant spellings of this same root include Bullein, Bullain, Bullinger, Bullin and Bullinger.
Bullington is a variant of this surname, originating either from a place name meaning "[dweller] at or near the bulling hollow" or derived from the Old English word meaning "bull".
Other variants of Bulling include Bullans and Bullinger. Bullans is a variant of Bullen. It is an English spelling that may have been popularized by families who originated from the counties of Kent and Surrey.
Finally, Bollingsworth is the surname variation of Bulling. This is a rare spelling that originates from the Old Norse words 'bolla' and 'vaerth', meaning 'bull' and 'enclosure'.
Famous people with the name Bulling
- Astrid Bulling-Schrøder: German-Danish lawyer, feminist, and member of the Resistance during World War II.
- Josep Antoni Bullich i Closa: Catalan physician and politician who established and chaired the First Societat de Farmàcia de Barcelona.
- Johann Georg Bulling: German engraver and medal maker.
- Andrea Bulling: German record producer, remixer, and songwriter.
- Tobias Bulling: German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Red Bull Salzburg.
- Barbara Bulling: Canadian exercise physiologist, university professor, and scientific editor.
- James Bulling: Australian manager and entrepreneur.
- Tony Bulling: British speed skater and founding member of the British Allround Speed Skating Union.
- Jürgen Bulling: German politician and physicist.
- Victoria Bulling: British-Norwegian speculative fiction writer and game designer.