Surname Bechtholdt - Meaning and Origin

Bechtholdt: What does the surname Bechtholdt mean?

The last name Bechtholdt is of German origin. It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a brook, derived from Middle High German beechte, meaning “brook” or “stream.” It is believed that the surname was first found in the Stuttgart region of southwestern Germany during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have been used as a descriptive name for a resident who lived near a small stream, creek, or brook.

The Bechtholdts are thought to have been an important family in the Stuttgart region since the late 12th century. Over the course of several centuries, the family made many important contributions to literature, politics, and science in Germany and in Europe. Notable members of the family include Jürgen Bechtholdt, a 17th century mathematician, Friedrich Bechtholdt, a 19th century zoologist and author of “Subterranean Fauna of Germany”, and Christian Bechtholdt, an 18th century statesman.

Today, the Bechtholdt name is found throughout Germany, with some descendants having since emigrated to other countries. In modern times, Bechtholdt has become a popular surname amongst families who continue to live in the Stuttgart region, and those who trace their heritage back to the Bechtholdt family.

Bechtholdt: Where does the name Bechtholdt come from?

Bechtholdt is a surname of German origin. It is most commonly found in Germany today, with the highest concentration in the Westphalian region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The last name has also spread to areas of German emigration, like the United States, where it is most prominently found around Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Tennessee.

It is believed that the first recorded instance of the last name Bechtholdt occured in 1673, when a family by that name was recorded in the town of Hoxberg. Other records for the name show it extending to well-known families living in Westphalia as early as 1690.

In addition to Germany, the history of the Bechtholdt family in the United States dates back to the early 18th century when Johann Jost Bechthold arrived in what is now known as Pennsylvania. Other notable instances of migration using the Bechtholdt last name occurred primarily during the mid-19th century in states like New York, Wisconsin, and Texas.

Today, the last name Bechtholdt is still quite common in Germany, and among German-Americans in the United States. It is most common in the states previously mentioned, as well as Ohio, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The Bechtholdt family tree is most heavily populated in North Rhine-Westphalia, where some smaller towns have multiple generations of the family still living there today.

Variations of the surname Bechtholdt

The surname Bechtholdt has several variants, spellings, and nicknames that have developed from its original form, including Bechtolt, Becheltholt, Bechtol, Beeckholt, Beck, Beckt, and Bechtoll.

Bechtholdt is an occupational German surname that comes from the German words “pech” which means pitch and “hold” which means tend to. It is a descriptive surname derived from a profession or the occupation of making pitch, a type of adhesive material, or from someone who was employed as a pitch maker.

In some cases, the name Bechtholdt is also a nickname that describes a person who was either talkative or brash.

The surname Bechtholdt can be found in the German state of Bavaria and the adjoining regions of Schwäbisch Hall and Saxony as well as in the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the old kingdom of Prussia. It is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.

In the United States, the spelling variants of the surname Bechtholdt include Bechtolt, Becheltholt, Bechtol, Beeckholt, Beck, Beckt, and Bechtoll. In some cases, the surname has also been anglicized and adapted into the more common spelling of Beck.

Famous people with the name Bechtholdt

• Kay Bechtholdt: Actor, best known for roles in Eastside, I'm coming home, and Rounds, as well as roles in television series such as Shadowhunters, In Plain Sight, and CSI Cyber.
• Mary Bechtholdt: Mary is an American professional swing dancer and instructor, based in Seattle, Washington. She has been an active competitor in the swing dance scene since 2001.
• Anika Bechtholdt: Anika is a German art historian and restorer. She currently works for the Berlin State Museums and focuses primarily on 20th century art.
• Adam Bechtholdt: Adam is an American mixed martial arts fighter who currently competes in Bellator's Featherweight division.
• Ulrich Bechtholdt: Ulrich is a German politician and a Member of the European Parliament, serving since the 2014 European Parliament elections.
• Jochen Bechtholdt: Jochen is a German international youth-football coach, currently managing the U-19 squad of Bayern Munich.
• Jens Bechtholdt: Jens is an astrolabe maker, master craftsman and professor of electronics at the Bergische Universität in Wuppertal. He has worked with traditional manufacturing methods and developed new instruments to measure the performance of automatedastronomical instruments.
• Jan Bechtholdt: Jan is a German equestrian, winning the bronze medal in the Individual event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He is also a six-time German national champion in dressage.

Other surnames

Bechthold