Surname Bechtolf - Meaning and Origin

Bechtolf: What does the surname Bechtolf mean?

The last name Bechtolf is of German origin. The literal translation of the name is "little wood". This suggests that the Bechtolf family may have had a profession relating to building or carpentry. Alternatively, the name could reflect a geographical location from which the family originated.

Bechtolf is first recorded in Lower Saxony, which is in the northeast part of Germany. This suggests that the Bechtolf’s may have originated from a wooded area such as the Harz Forest or Elbe River Valley.

The earliest recorded ancestor of the Bechtolf family is Gösser Bechtolff, who lived in Germany in the late 1600s. During the 1700s and 1800s, many Bechtolffs emigrated from Germany to America, settling mainly in the East Coast states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

Bechtolf is also a common family name in the Netherlands, as many German immigrants settled there after World War II.

The Bechtolf name is still quite common in Germany and the Netherlands, but in the United States the name is quickly dying out. However, there are still Bechtolf families living in many different cities around the world.

Bechtolf: Where does the name Bechtolf come from?

The last name Bechtolf is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and parts of the United States. In Germany, it is mainly concentrated in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, where the variant spelling Bechtloff is more predominant. In the United States, Bechtolf is found in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The surname Bechtolf is derived from a Germanic personal name, Bechtolf, which means “bold wolf.” It is thought to have originated in the Frankish Empire, which was a large area of Europe that included current-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and spanned from the 5th to the 10th century.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname comes from the year 1272 in the city of Aachen in Germany. During this time, a Johannes Bechtolf is named in the city settlement charter.

Today, Bechtolf is an uncommon surname and is more likely to be encountered in more rural or mountainous areas, such as the Austrian Alps. It is still relatively common in Germany, where it ranks 189th out of 350,000 surnames. It is much rarer in the United States, where it ranks 7658th.

Variations of the surname Bechtolf

Bechtolf is a German surname that likely derives from an old German name, "Böchtolb", meaning "clear valley". The name can be spelt and varied in many ways, including Bechtel, Bechteler, Bechteli, Bechtol, Bechtold, Bechtoldt, Bechoel, Becktel and Becktoerl.

It is also related to surnames based on the ancient Germanic names of Böhte, Bote, and Bot. Hence, the surname Bechtolf can also be seen as an alternative spelling or variant of the Boteler or Boteler, and the Bosler and Bosler surname.

In addition, the surname could also have had a French origin, possibly derived from the Old French name Bichotel, which may also be found as Becotel, Becoteler, Bescot, Bescott, Bescotte, Bescotel, Beskot, Beskotte and Bescotell.

In terms of geographical variations, the surname Bechtolf may also be seen as variants of the German Beckel, Beckelmeyer, Bückel, Böckel and Böckelmann. Additionally, it is related to the Austrian and Croatian names Becherov and Becherova, and the Czech names Běckel and Beckel.

The spelling variations of Bechtolf are numerous, as there are many regional variations and differing cultural influences on this surname. Whether the origin is Germanic or French, this surname has been found in many parts of the world under different spellings and modifications since ancient times.

Famous people with the name Bechtolf

• Jean-Claude Bechtolf: A Swiss stage director, dramaturge and opera director active across Europe, particularly in France, Swiss and Germany.
• Otto Bechtolf: A Swiss politician from the Canton of St. Gallen. He was President of the Swiss Council of States in 1972.
• Johann Bechtolf: The Director Emeritus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He is renowned for his productions of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Richard Wagner.
• Paul Bechtolf: A Swiss Olympic bobsledder who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
• Wilhelmine Bechtolf: A Swiss actress who was a close associate of Gustav Kobbé and with whom Gustav wrote several plays and librettos.
• Martin Bechtolf: A Swiss baritone and stage director of German and Swiss origin, who is closely associated with the Bavarian State Opera and the Vienna State Opera.
• Julia Bechtolf: An Austrian-Swiss actress and singer, best known for her role as Hedwig Freifrau von Zinzendorf in the ORF television series therapy and the musical Johann Strauss.
• Alexander Bechtolf: A Swiss former competitive figure skater, director, coach, and choreographer.
• Karl August Bechtolf: A German painter and lithographer. He is best known for his works, which featured many portraits and genre scenes of life in Bavaria.
• Johann Christoph Bechtolf: A German architect and landscape painter. He is best known for his works in the plain style of the late 18th and early 19th century.

Other surnames

BechtoldBechtoldt