| ![Show Contents]() Berkhoff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Germany
Etymology of BerkhoffWhat does the name Berkhoff mean? The Berkhoff surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Berkhoff is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Berkhoff was given to someone who lived near a castle. The surname Berkhoff is derived from the Old German word burg, or the German word burc, which mean a fortification, stronghold, or castle. The surname Berkhoff is also related to the Old German word borchman, which refers to a person who held a castle or fortress in fief from a feudal lord. Berkhoff is also an occupational type of surname for a person who was responsible for the defense of a fortress. As medieval Germany abounded with castles and fortresses, the Berkhoff family was extremely influential during the feudal era. In Bavaria, the Berkhoff emerged during medieval times to become one of the most notable families in the region. Early Origins of the Berkhoff familyThe surname Berkhoff was first found in Bavaria, where the name Burchtorff emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on, the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. Early History of the Berkhoff familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Berkhoff research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1730 is included under the topic Early Berkhoff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Berkhoff Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Berkhoff include Burchtorff, Burchtorf, Burchetorf, Burcktorff, Burktorff, Berchtorff, Bercktorff, Buerchtorff, Buerchtorf, Buerchetorf, Buercktorff, Buerktorff, Borchtorff, Boerchtorff, Borchtorf, Boerchtorf, Borchetorf, Boerchetorf, Borcktorff, Boercktorff, Borktorff, Boerktorff, Burchtorffer, Burchdorffer, Burchdorff, Burchdorp, Burchdorper, Borchtorffer, Borchdorffer, Borchdorff, Borchdorp, Borchdorper, Boerchtorffer, Boerchdorffer, Boerchdorff, Boerchdorp and many more. Early Notables of the Berkhoff familyMore information is included under the topic Early Berkhoff Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Berkhoff migration to the United States | + |
The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:
Berkhoff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Elise Berkhoff, aged 34, who landed in New York, NY in 1851 1
- George Berkhoff, aged 28, who arrived in New York, NY in 1851 1
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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