Surname Bergholder - Meaning and Origin
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Bergholder: What does the surname Bergholder mean?
The last name Bergholder is an old German surname that is said to have come from Rhineland. It was derived from the Middle High German word berc, which means “mountain, hill, or slope.” People with the last name Bergholder likely lived near or on a mountain or hill.
Bergholders arose from a period of German migration throughout the Middle Ages. Most of the earliest mentions of the Bergholders come from villages in the Rhineland. By the 17th century, the Bergholders had spread across Europe. Today, the last name Bergholder is found in many parts of Europe and the United States.
Bergholder is often found in regions with German roots, due to the history of German migration. The surname often serves to mark the origin of a family; often times, it is a distinctive way to identify those with German heritage.
The Bergholder family has likely experienced a great deal of prosperity throughout the centuries, as people with this last name often had a connection to powerful families or communities. People with the Bergholder surname have likely had a deep knowledge of the land in their respective areas, leaving centuries of contributions to the culture and land of the region.
Order DNA origin analysisBergholder: Where does the name Bergholder come from?
The last name Bergholder is most commonly found in several regions of the world, including Germany, Austria, and the United States.
In Germany, research shows that there are upwards of 1,000 people with the name of Bergholder. Predominantly found in the southeastern region of the country, most establish themselves in big cities such as Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, with smaller numbers in Dresden and Leipzig.
In Austria, the name is much less common than in Germany - estimates state that there are around 700 Bergholders in the country, most of whom have settled in Vienna, Graz, and Linz.
Over in America, there is a significant population of Bergholders, which is most concentrated in Pennsylvania. Within the state, Bergholder is the 74,338th common surname, with around 890 estimated individuals bearing the name. It is also present in New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
Altogether, this suggests that the Bergholder name is most popular in Central Europe, while also having a footprint across North America and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Bergholder
The surname Bergholder is believed to be of German origin, and there are numerous variants and spellings of this surname found around the world.
In Germany, the surname is much more common as Bergmüller or Bergmueller. This spelling is mainly found in Austria and Germany, where it is the 52nd most common surname. The related spelling of Bergmuller, Bergmueller, Bergmüller are also found in the German-speaking countries, but are slightly less common than Bergmüller.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the surname Bergmeijer is most common, closely followed by Berghemer and Bergheymers, and the rarer forms Bergmeijers and Bergheimers. Other Dutch-language variants include Bergmijer, Bergmijers, Bergmeer, Berghouder, Burgmeijer, Bergheijm, Bergmeijer, Berghoef and Bergmaeijer.
In Switzerland, the surname Berghold is most common, typically found throughout the French-speaking areas. The variants Bergheld and Berghöld are also found.
In the United States and Canada, many variations on the name Bergmueller are found because of the varying levels of immigration around the 19th and 20th centuries. Spellings such as Bergmueller, Bergmoeller, Burgmiller, Bergmoeller, Bergmeyer, Burkmiller, Bergholder and Bergmiller are all found.
In England, the surname Burghold is found primarily in London and Berkshire. Variants of the English spelling include Burgold, Birchill, Burchill and Bergholz.
In Ireland, the surname Bergholz is most commonly found. It is an anglicised form of German Bergholz, and is mainly found in the Belfast and Dublin area. Other variants of the Irish spelling include Bergholtz, Birghill and Burchill.
Famous people with the name Bergholder
- Rolf Bergholder: Former professional German footballer known for playing for Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and 1. FC Köln.
- Heidi Bergholder: Swiss artist who works in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, performance, video, and theater.
- Meta Bergholder: has worked as a storyboard artist for the likes of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Warner Bros.
- Leslie Bergholder: a three-time Emmy award-winning editor who has worked on various Hollywood films, including The Dark Knight and Argo.
- Jan Bergholder: a renowned American cultural historian and author.
- Max Bergholder: a famous German-born film director who has directed films such as The People vs. Fritz Bauer and The Kings of the Street
- Dolf Bergholder: a Dutch-born designer who has been credited with creating the modern Dutch flag.
- Albert and Bess Bergholder: an American couple from Columbus, Ohio who founded the Bergholders Can Company in 1895.
- George Bergholder: an American civil engineer and inventor whose patents included a pipe fitting for connecting two sections of pipe and a method of constructing rock-masonry dams.
- Andrew Bergholder: a Canadian strategic business and marketing consultant known for writing the books “Branding Without Boilerplate” and “Secrets of a Serial Entrepreneur”.