Borscheid History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Borscheid

What does the name Borscheid mean?

The history of the Borscheid family name begins in the German province of Bavaria. Borscheid is a nickname surname, a class of German names derived from eke-names, or added names, that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute. Borscheid is a name for a person who lived in Bavaria. Originally, the bearers of the surname Borscheid were concentrated in Bavaria; however, the family rapidly expanded into other parts of Germany and branched into many houses. The dimensions of the Borscheid family increased markedly during the 16th century, which was also a time of large scale continental migration, as its members developed interests outside the region of Bavaria. The branches of the Borscheid family acquired a status and influence that were envied by the other Bavarian nobles and each of the houses of the Borscheid family played an important role in the frequent conflicts among the nobility over power and status. In their later history, the Borscheid family became one of the most influential families of the area and were elevated to the ranks of nobility.

Early Origins of the Borscheid family

The surname Borscheid was first found in Bavaria, where the name Bourschiedt came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. It later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired estates in new locations which, combined with their great contributions to society, succeeded in elevating their social status.

Early History of the Borscheid family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Borscheid research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Borscheid History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Borscheid Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Borscheid include Bourschiedt, Bourscheid, Bourtscheid, Bourschedt, Borscheid, Bortscheid, Borschedt, Burscheid and many more.

Early Notables of the Borscheid family

More information is included under the topic Early Borscheid Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Borscheid family

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Borscheid or a variant listed above: Gerh. Wilhelm Burscheid, who arrived in America in 1834; Barbara Burtscheid, who arrived in New York, NY in 1876; and John Burscheid, who arrived in Illinois in 1889..