Surname Johanböke - Meaning and Origin
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Johanböke: What does the surname Johanböke mean?
The last name Johanböke is a Swedish variant of the name Johanboken. The literal translation of ‘Johanböke’ is ‘John’s book’, implying that this family is descended from a man named John.
Traditionally, Swedish surnames were formed from the father's or family’s first name. This is why the last name Johanböke originated from the given name Johan. In the old days, surnames were typically patronymic in nature. This meant that the eldest son of a family would usually take on the father's first name as his surname, with the addition of a suffix. In the case of the last name Johanböke, the suffix ‘-böke’ was added to the father's first name to create the surname. The suffix literally means ‘book’, denoting the family’s book of records that would have been kept to document the lives and heritage of each family member.
The last name Johanböke is one of many names that reflect the way surnames were formed in Sweden in the past. To have such an old name is a source of pride for many Swedish families, as it demonstrates their longstanding roots and family heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisJohanböke: Where does the name Johanböke come from?
The last name Johanböke is most common in Germany today. The 2020 Germany census found that there were 887 people with this last name living in the country. The largest cluster of Johanböke's is located in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, with over 200 people living in the area. Smaller numbers exist elsewhere within Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and a handful of other countries.
The origin of the Johanböke name is uncertain, though one theory suggests that it is derived from the German name “Johann” and “Böke” which means “beech tree”, the name was likely given to someone who lived near a beech tree. Other possibilities include Hungarian origins or that it is derived from a personal name given to someone who lived in one of German-controlled village.
One Johanböke family, the Busche-Johanböke’s, settled in the village of Neckenmarkt, in Austria in 1657. The family continued to live in the area until 1810, when members of the family moved to nearby towns such as Schönbruck and Horitschon. The family has gradually moved further afield since then, with many living in places as far flung as Australia and the United States.
Today the Johanböke name is generally associated with German-speaking nations, and is particularly common in the northern part of Germany. For those with the Johanböke last name, it is likely that their family has a long and rich history based in the north of Europe.
Variations of the surname Johanböke
Johanböke is a very rare surname and there are few alternate spellings. The variants of Johanböke are Johanboke, Johanbok, Johanboka, and Johanböka. It is mainly a Swedish name and sometimes comes in the form of Jöhanböke, Johenboöke, Jöhenböke, Jöhänboöke, Jöhenböke, and Jöhenböka.
The surnames related to Johanböke include Johansson, Johannson, Johanssen, Johnson, and Johannesen. All these surnames have the same root as Johanböke and are derived from the given name Johan, which is the male form of John in Swedish.
The meaning of the name Johanböke is believed to come from the root words Johan (John) plus böke (book). As such, the name has been interpreted as meaning “book-keeper” or “scholar” – someone who records and documents information, making sure everything is accurate.
Given its uncommon nature, there aren’t many people who carry the surname Johanböke; however, it appears that it originated from or is associated with a small community in Sweden. There is some evidence to suggest that the community was called “Johansboke” and was located in the Halland province of Sweden. This makes it even more interesting to speculate how the name evolved and spread over time.
Famous people with the name Johanböke
- Stig Johanböke, Swedish actor
- Kersti Johanböke, Swedish ballerina
- Elof Johanböke, Swedish painter
- Magnus Johanböke, Swedish sculptor
- Niklas Johanböke, Swedish entrepreneur
- Karin Johanböke, Swedish television presenter
- Erik Johanböke, Swedish fashion designer
- John-Henrik Johanböke, Swedish film director
- Tove Johanböke, Swedish photographer
- Olle Johanböke, Swedish athlete