Surname Bechthold - Meaning and Origin

Bechthold: What does the surname Bechthold mean?

The last name Bechthold is of German origin, and it was earned by someone who served as a magistrate or an elected official in a small town. The name itself derives from the German words of “beit”, which means “official”, and “hold” which means “place”. Loosely translated, the term is “holder of the office”.

During the period of the Middle Ages, there were localities in Germany that were not large enough to have a court system. A small community may have had a single representative, the Bechthold, who was responsible for handling all of the local legal and administrative conflicts such as resolving boundary disputes, enforcing laws, and hearing lawsuits. Thus, the holder of the office was also granted authority presiding over official business.

The word Bechthold also appeared in regional German dialects such as “Balkhof”, “Bauchhold”, and “ Baucht” . Many of the family lines who bear this name descend from families who lived in aristocratic houses, although later Bechtholds were involved in other professions such as medicine and teaching.

Today, descendants of the Bechthold surname can be found all over the world, and many are found in the United States.

Bechthold: Where does the name Bechthold come from?

The last name Bechthold is most commonly found in Germany, along with countries of German origin such as the United States, Canada, and some other parts of Europe. It is derived from a Germanic word for “bend” or “cleft” and was likely used to describe a geographical feature located near the family’s original home. Historically, the last name Bechthold has been found in places like Bavaria, Saxony, Styria, and Austria. In modern times, descendants of the Bechthold family have immigrated all over the world, particularly to the United States and Canada, where it is common among the descendants of German immigrants. Common variants of the last name, such as “Bechtold” and “Bechtol”, are also present in places such as Mexico and Luxembourg. It is likely that these variants developed as the last name was adapted to new languages and alphabets. The last name Bechthold is a great example of the German diaspora, which helped create the unique multilingual and multicultural society we live in today.

Variations of the surname Bechthold

The surname Bechthold is derived from the Germanic name Bechtold, which was a common name at the time of the Middle Ages. This surname is sometimes found spelled as Bechtel, Bechtelhöfer, Bechtold, Bechtol, Bachthold, Bechel, Becktol, Becktold, Bekthold, Betholt, and Becthlold.

The origin of the surname Bechthold is uncertain, however, some sources suggest that it is a derived from the Gaelic surname Boechtle, which translates to "little house". It is also possible that the surname has a meaning related to dry goods trade, derived from the Middle High German word bechlari, which means "to trade or bargain".

The surname is found in several different countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. In Germany, Bechthold was often associated with noble families in the 14th century, while in Switzerland and Liechtenstein it is more associated with farming and agricultural communities.

Many of the variants of the Bechthold surname have their own unique family histories related to particular regions. In Austria, for example, the variants Bekthold and Bechtelhöfer refer to the families that once formed part of the ruling class in their respective areas. In Switzerland, Bachthold and Bechel are derived from families that were landowners in the early 1400s, and Becktold is thought to have originated from the city of Basel.

The variations of the surname Bechthold provide a glimpse into the rich history of Germany and its surrounding countries. Over time, the families with this surname have spread throughout Europe, with each variant evolving and taking on a unique story of its own.

Famous people with the name Bechthold

• Uwe Bechthold: German artist and entrepreneur
• Anton Bechthold: Swiss artist
• João Bechthold: Brazilian professional footballer
• Anna Bechthold: Austrian classical pianist
• Alexander Bechthold: Austrian cinematographer
• Max Bechthold: Austrian painter
• Lati Bechthold: former Chairman of the board of trustees of the Great Mosque of Paris
• Fritz Bechthold: former German footballer
• Robert Bechthold: American football player
• Gertrud Bechthold: German politician

Other surnames

Bechtholdt