Surname Bönninghausen - Meaning and Origin
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Bönninghausen: What does the surname Bönninghausen mean?
The surname Bönninghausen is a Low German or Dutch topographic name for someone who lived near a bonn-house, or a barn. The name derives from the Middle Low German "bonn" and "husen", which mean "house". Over the centuries, the name has had several variants such as Beninghausen, Büninghausen, Bonninghausen, and Bueninghausen.
The name is primarily associated with the German region of Westphalia, where the family is believed to have originated. It is believed that the Dutch Bonninghausen family arrived in the area in the sixteenth century and settled near a barn in the west of the province. This is likely where the surname originated.
For many centuries, the Bonninghausen family has been well established in Germany, and can be traced back to 1253. The family is believed to have included several prominent members, including the Hamburg-born merchant Johann Hinrich Büninghausen, who in 1678 was the first person to apply the Scandinavian shipping system to the Hanseatic Company.
Today, the Bonninghausen name is found in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, South Africa and New Zealand. In recent years, many members of the family have become prominent in their fields, ranging from medicine, business, law and the arts.
This ancient surname is testament to the family’s long-standing strength and resilience, and is a reminder of the importance of preserving one’s heritage and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisBönninghausen: Where does the name Bönninghausen come from?
The last name Bönninghausen is most common in Germany. According to the 2020 German census, the name is most prevalent in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Specifically, the towns of Stolberg, Bergheim, and Erkelenz are the places where Bönninghausen is most common.
The town of Stolberg is a town in the former manufacturing area in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia. It also has a large coal mine. Bönninghausen is said to have originated in Stolberg.
Bergheim is a small town located in the western part of North Rhine-Westphalia. Many of its inhabitants are of Protestant faith. It is believed that the Bönninghausen family originated in Bergheim and the surrounding area.
Erkelenz is located in the far north-west of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a popular holiday destination for those interested in outdoor activities such as hiking or cycling. As it is close to the Dutch border, the town also has a number of Dutch visitors. It is believed that the Bönninghausen family settled here many generations ago.
Today, the Bönninghausen name is still associated with these three towns in North Rhine-Westphalia. While it is possible to find members of the Bönninghausen family living outside of these towns, the majority of them remain in the area.
Variations of the surname Bönninghausen
The surname Bönninghausen is of Germanic origin, and is derived from the Germanic given name "Bonning". Variants of this surname, as well as surnames which branch from this root, include Böhnig, Benninghaus, Bonninghause, Benighausen, Buninghause, and Bünnighausen. The surname Bönninghausen is believed to have first appeared in records near the Rhineland in what is now Germany in the late 1300s.
The main spelling of the surname is Bönninghausen, although in German speaking areas this surname is sometimes spelt Bönnighausen. Records show that many regions began to adopt this spelling sometime in the 19th century, such as the regions of Rhineland and Westphalia.
In addition to the variants of the Bönninghausen surname, there are several surnames of similar origin. For example, Böhning is derived from the ancient Bavarian word “böhnen”, meaning “to strike, beat, or move rapidly”. The surname Böhning also appears in records from the Rhineland in the 13th century.
Another related surname is Benninghaus. This surname is derived from the early Middle Low German phrase “benninghausen”, which translates to “in the midst of a forest”. Records from the 13th century in what is now the Netherlands show that many families which adopted this surname lived and worked near forests.
Finally, the surname Benighausen also has similar roots to the Bönninghausen surname. This surname is derived from the Middle Low German words “benen”, meaning “plain”, and “hauser”, which means “houses”. Benighausen was found in records from the 11th century near the border between modern day Germany and Belgium.
In conclusion, the surname Bönninghausen has a rich and varied history, and is believed to have roots in the Germanic language. Other surnames with similar origins include Böhning, Benninghaus, Bonninghause, Benighausen, Buninghause, and Bünnighausen.
Famous people with the name Bönninghausen
- Theodor Freiherr von Bönninghausen (1785-1864): German lawyer, botanist, and homeopathic physician who is best known for producing alternative homeopathic treatments.
- Hermann von Bönninghausen (1844-1911): German naturalist and geographer who wrote various books about travel in the North Sea and along the coasts of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and England.
- Carl Bönninghausen (1821-1895): German philologist and historian who wrote several books about the linguistics of German and other languages.
- August Bönninghausen (1784-1845): German botanist who developed a method of classifying plants according to their characteristics.
- Wilhelm Bönninghausen (1803-1877): German philosopher and philologist who wrote various books on logic and linguistics.
- Robert Bönninghausen (1738-1817): German botanist and naturalist who is best known for being one of the first to identify and name thousands of plants and insects.
- Ernst Ferdinand Bönninghausen (1794-1863): German physician who wrote several books on homeopathy, including "Systematic Treatise on Homeopathy", in which he expounded a system of homeopathic therapeutics.
- Franz Bönninghausen (1885-1943): German philologist and poet who wrote about the history of German literature and language.
- Andreas Bönninghausen (1781-1861): German politician and military officer who was minister of foreign affairs in Hamburg from 1833 to 1848.