Birkhoff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Birkhoff

The ancestral home of the Birkhoff family is Bavaria. Birkhoff is a local name for a person who lived near a castle. The surname Birkhoff is derived from the Old German word burg, or the German word burc, which mean a fortification, stronghold, or castle. The surname Birkhoff 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. Birkhoff 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 Birkhoff family was extremely influential during the feudal era. In Bavaria, the Birkhoff emerged during medieval times to become one of the most notable families in the region.

Early Origins of the Birkhoff family

Early History of the Birkhoff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Birkhoff research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1730 is included under the topic Early Birkhoff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Birkhoff 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 Birkhoff 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 Birkhoff family

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

Migration of the Birkhoff family

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Birkhoff or a variant listed above: settlers on the eastern seaboard of the United States and in Canada during the 18th and 19th centuries.