Surname Barghorn - Meaning and Origin
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Barghorn: What does the surname Barghorn mean?
The surname Barghorn is believed to be of Germanic and English origin. The "Barg" in the name could be derived from the Middle High German word "barge" which meant a hill, mound, heap or hillock, while "arn, horn, hern or haurn" is thought to come from the Old English pre 7th century word "horn" meaning a steep rock or hill.
As a result, Barghorn can be interpreted as meaning "a hill with a steep rock or a heap of stony stone", or “a hill surrounded by rocks, a rocky place, a cliff".
It's possible that the name began as a nickname for someone who lived or worked in a rocky place or near a bare hill or carried out some activity associated with these features, as well as describing the physical environment of a particular place.
The Barghorns settled in several areas in the United States, such as Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as in Canada. By the mid-1800s, many of them changed their spellings in the US, choosing to use the more Americanized spelling of "Baughman" or "Baughn".
In summary, Barghorn is a toponymic surname of Germanic-English origin believed to refer to someone who lived or worked in a rocky place, or to a visually recognizable conference or landscape feature.
Order DNA origin analysisBarghorn: Where does the name Barghorn come from?
The last name Barghorn is most commonly found in Germany today. In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau, Barghorn is one of the top 1,000 surnames in Germany, ranking in at position 572. The surname originated from the Middle German "barghorn," meaning a bull, and was likely first used as a nickname for a particularly large or strong individual.
The most numerous state for the surname Barghorn is Bavaria, with it being significantly more common in the south of Germany than the north. The highest concentration of the name is found in Würzburg, followed by Bamberg, both of which are in Bavaria. Barghorn is slightly more common in rural than urban areas, representing a larger portion of the population in smaller towns and villages.
The Barghorn name is becoming increasingly rare, however, with residence in Germany declining over the past century. Despite a slight rise in population between 2008 and 2012, due to a wave of immigration, this appears to have had minimal impact on the distribution of the Barghorn surname.
Variations of the surname Barghorn
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Barghorn include Bergern, Burgern, Bargen, Barhörn, Bergman, Bergmann, Bergmüller, Berger, Berghorn, and Berghardt.
The surname Barghorn, as well as its many variants, traces its origin to the Old High German word "berg" meaning mountain, and the Old Norse word "horgn" meaning peak. These two words were combined to create this unique surname. Throughout Germanic cultures, this surname began to take on many variations of spellings and pronunciations, leading to the many variants of the surname seen today.
The variants may reflect different regional dialects and shifting pronunciations or spelling age, as well as the adoption of foreign surnames, especially in cases of migration and immigration. As the surname spread from its original origin, members of this surname family adopted the variation that felt most natural to them, leading to more localized versions of the name.
For example, Barghorn families in the Upper Bavarian region of Germany may have adopted the variant Bergmann, whereas Bergmüller may have been more common among families in the area of Baden-Württemberg. Similarly, in the United States, Barghorn families adopted the spellings of Berger and Bergman to reflect Americanized versions of the name.
These days, it is not hard to trace the roots of the Barghorn surname and its variants to its Germanic origins. With a few minutes of research, one can easily identify the variations of the Barghorn surname and determine where their family may have come from or how they may have adopted the surname.
Famous people with the name Barghorn
- Ryan Barghorn: Professional American soccer player
- David Barghorn: Australian cricketer
- Tyler Barghorn: American Olympic athlete
- Vincent Barghorn: Canadian aviator
- Richard Barghorn: German World War Two flying ace
- Martha Barghorn: American artist
- Wendy Barghorn: English campaigner for social justice
- Cassandra Barghorn: Brazilian musician
- Peter Barghorn: Award-winning British actor
- Lars Barghorn: Swedish actor and director