The name Baumgarts is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. In the Biblical period, Jews, and members of all the ancient civilizations had no surnames. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as populations increased and people began to both urbanize and travel more, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources. Two of the most common types of Jewish family names are patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. In such situations as during a repressive regime in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia in 1726, restricting the number of Jewish marriages, this law could be evaded by registering some marriages in the mother's name.
The German word "baum" means tree, and "baumgarten," orchard. The Ashkenazic Jewish name Baumgarts was an occupational name for one who owned or worked in an orchard, or a geographical name for someone who lived near an orchard. There are also several German villages named Baumgarten, and some bearers of Baumgarts may have derived their name from the village names. Baumgarts is also a common German name.
Baumgarts Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Baumgarten, Baumgartner, Baumgaertner, Baumgertner, Baumgardtner, Baumgardner, Baumgart, Baumgarte, Baumgard and many more.
