Surname Bachlechner - Meaning and Origin
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Bachlechner: What does the surname Bachlechner mean?
The last name Bachlechner is derived from the German language, and translates into English as “Bachlechner” or “BachLecker”. It is believed to have originated in the early 1700s in Germany and is typically found in Bavaria. It is thought to have been a patronymic surname of sorts, with the first holder of the name having been the son of someone referred to as “Bach”.
The name would then have been adopted as a surname by the family of the first man to take it, a tradition that is shared by many families of German origin. As such, “Bachlechner” has not only become a widely used surname among families of German origin, but also among those of Austrian and Swiss descent.
The meaning of the name itself is difficult to pin down. It is speculated that it could have originally been a derogatory term used to describe someone who was considered to be a fool or a buffoon, probably due to the combination of “Bach” and “Lecker”, which roughly translates to “foolish idiot” in German.
Alternatively, the name could also have meant something more positive such as a “joyful lecher” or someone who is “very clever”. Ultimately, the meaning of the name is open to interpretation, with no one interpretation being objectively correct.
Order DNA origin analysisBachlechner: Where does the name Bachlechner come from?
The surname Bachlechner is generally considered to be of German origin. It is a relatively uncommon name, primarily found within Germany and Austria. It is a rarer name beyond Germany and Austria, although research indicates that it may be found in parts of Central Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.
In Germany, where the name originated, it is most often found in Bavaria. This is unsurprising given that the name is derived from the Bavarian region of Pangau. It is also found in the surrounding regions of Saxony, Thuringia, and Baden-Württemberg.
Additionally, Bachlechner can often be found in Austria, and specifically in the southeastern regions such as Kärnten, Oberösterreich and Steiermark.
The name is less consistently found elsewhere in Central Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, and Switzerland.
While the name may be found in the United Kingdom, numbers are generally low. Similarly, Bachlechner is an uncommon name in the United States, with the majority of bearers found in several states of the Midwest and Northeast, including New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois.
Overall, Bachlechner is a rare name today, but can generally be found in areas where Germanic and Dutch-speaking populations reside.
Variations of the surname Bachlechner
The surname Bachlechner has several potential variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variations of the name include Bachelchner, Bachlachner, Bachlachner, Bachlechner, Bachleckner, Baclechner, Baklechner, Bakhlekhner, Baklachner, Bakleckner, and Bakhlachner.
One possible origin of the name Bachlechner is from the German word "Bach," meaning "stream" and "Lechner," deriving from the Old High German name "Lehhener," which means someone who lives near a stream. The Bavarian name could originate from a small streams name, with locals being known as such. The name was likely adopted during the 15th to 16th centuries, when surnames were becoming more common, and as family name requirements and traditions.
The spelling of the surname would have changed as families moved from one area to another, as people move and spelling changed over time. Some of the popular variations of the surname Bachlechner include Baklachner, Bakleckner, Bakhlekhner, Bakhlachner, Baclechner, Baklechner, Bachlachner, Bachlachner, Bachleckner, and Bachelchner.
The Ashkenazic Jewish variant of the name Bachlechner is Be'khler. This version of the name originated among Jews in conservative communities who strictly followed Ashkenazic pronuciations of words, resulting in the spelling variations of Be'khler.
Throughout Europe, many variations of the Bachlechner name can still be found today. Despite the different spelling options, the surname Bachlechner is specific to Central Europe, with families connected to the same origin likely scattered throughout Bavaria, Austria, and other German-speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Bachlechner
- Stephan Bachlechner: a German television editor and executive producer.
- Heinz Bachlechner: an Austrian association football midfielder who is a current player for Wiener Neustadt.
- Leo Bachlechner: an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for FC Dornbirn.
- Ruben Bachlechner: an Austrian footballer and currently plays for FC Kufstein.
- Johann Bachlechner: an Austrian cyclist who was a member of the Austrian national team, competing in the UCI Road World Championships in 1998 and 1999.
- Andreas Bachlechner: a retired Austrian footballer who played as a defender.
- Hubert Bachlechner: a retired Austrian footballer who played as a midfielder.
- Johann Bachlechner: an Austrian composer and organist of the late classical period.
- Sebastian Bachlechner: an Austrian former footballer who played as a defender.
- Maria Bachlechner: an Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1956 and 1964 Winter Olympics.