Show ContentsBorchert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Borchert emerged in the ancient German province of Westphalia, which lies between the Rhine and Wesser rivers. Two of the common types of hereditary surnames found in the Westphalia were patronymic surnames, which were derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which were derived from the mother's given name. The surname Borchert was derived from the old Germanic personal name Burghard, in turn derived from the Old German word "burg," which meant "fortress" or "castle," and "har" or "hari," which meant "army." The second part of the name may also be derived from the Old German word "hard" or "hart," which meant "strong."

Early Origins of the Borchert family

The surname Borchert was first found in Westphalia, where this family was an integral part of a feudal society which would shape modern European history. The -hert ending of this variant of the name comes from "hardt," which meant "brave" in Middle High German. Many prominent branches of the family would strive to make this name renowned as they contributed to the social, economic and political affairs of the region.

Early History of the Borchert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Borchert research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1773 is included under the topic Early Borchert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Borchert Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Borchert include Borchert, Borchers, Borchart, Borchardt and others.

Early Notables of the Borchert family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Borchert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Borchert Ranking

In the United States, the name Borchert is the 15,263rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Borchert migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Borchert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Rudolf Gottfried Borchert, who landed in America in 1839 2
  • Hear Anton Borchert, who arrived in America in 1846 2
  • Frederick Borchert, who landed in Arkansas in 1891 2
  • Louise Borchert, aged 19, who settled in America from Hamburg, in 1892
  • Carl Borchert, aged 33, who landed in America from Hasenfeld, in 1897
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Borchert Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alma Borchert, aged 27, who landed in America from Hamburg, in 1905
  • Gottfrid Borchert, aged 49, who landed in America from Stetten, Germany, in 1905
  • Erna Borchert, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Hanover, Germany, in 1909
  • Franziska Borchert, aged 17, who landed in America from Dresden, Germany, in 1909
  • Bertha Borchert, aged 3, who landed in America from Braunschweig, Germany, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Borchert (post 1700) +

  • William G. "Bill" Borchert (1933-2022), American Primetime Emmy nominated screenwriter and author who wrote the script for the 1989 film My Name is Bill W., based on the true story of Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson
  • John R. Borchert, American geographer, eponym of Borchert's epochs
  • Martin Borchert, American politician, Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, 1967-68
  • Bernhard Borchert (1863-1945), Baltic-German artist
  • Thomas Borchert (b. 1966), German actor, singer, and songwriter
  • Jochen Borchert (b. 1940), German politician and member of the German Bundestag (1980-)
  • Wolfgang Borchert (1921-1947), German author and actor, best known for his play "Drausen vor der Tuer," which received international acclaim, eponym of 39540 Borchert (1991 GF11), a main-belt asteroid
  • Ernst Borchert (1918-1945), German highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Wilhelm Borchert (1904-1944), German highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II, recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  • Katrin Borchert (b. 1969), Australian Olympic canoeist medalist

Bismarck
  • Alfred Borchert (1921-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 3


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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