Surname Baumgaertel - Meaning and Origin

Baumgaertel: What does the surname Baumgaertel mean?

The last name Baumgaertel is German and is derived from the words "baum" meaning tree and "gärtel" meaning belt. It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone who was known to have worn or owned a belt made of tree bark or made of wood. It could also have been used as a professional name to refer to someone who specialized in creating and mending tree bark or wood belts.

Today the surname is found mainly in Germany and other European countries with Germanic roots. It could either be an occupational surname referring to someone who works in forestry or in the making of wood products or a patronymic surname meaning "son of Baumgartel", combined with the suffix "-el" to designate "son of".

The surname may now be used to refer to someone who is directly related to the original person that it was named after, or it could simply be used to denote someone with Germanic heritage. It could refer to someone who is outdoorsy or someone who is interested in the study of trees or woodworking. For those of Germanic heritage, it can also be a symbol of pride, especially since the one bearing it can trace their heritage back to a specific origin within Germany.

Baumgaertel: Where does the name Baumgaertel come from?

The last name Baumgaertel is a German-language surname, also known as Bazan in its Czech form. It is likely derived from the Middle High German "baumgarten," meaning either a "fruit tree garden" if translated literally, or more figuratively as an "enclosed garden plot." Today, the surname is most concentrated in eastern Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, Austria, Poland, and Czech Republic.

In Germany, the last name is considered relatively rare, with only around 300 listed in the telephone directory at the time of writing, making it much less common than surnames like Meyer or Wagner. It is, however, fairly popular in certain areas such as Bavaria, where 239 individuals with the name can be found. There were also significant numbers in towns such as Polheim, where 68 people with the name are listed.

Outside of Germany, the last name Baumgaertel is also widespread in Austria, with over 1,000 individuals carrying the name, mainly concentrated in the north-eastern areas of the country. In the Czech Republic, the surname has spread and grown in popularity; a 2014 genealogical study found 605 individuals carrying the name Bazan.

Having origins in Germany, the surname also enjoyed growth in the United States during the nineteenth century immigration wave. The majority of those that took the name Americanized it to Baumgardner or Ballard. Today, around 10,000 people still carry the surname in the US.

It appears that the surname Baumgaertel is still popular in areas of Europe such as Austria and the Czech Republic, while in Germany it has become much more rare. Despite this, the name has enjoyed some success in areas such as the United States, where the Americanized version remains relatively widespread today.

Variations of the surname Baumgaertel

The surname Baumgaertel is a German surname with known variants, spellings and associated surnames of the same origin. These include Baumgärtel, Boemgertel, Baumgartel, Baumgarte, Boamgartel, Boemgartel, Boemgärtel, Boomgärtel, Boomgarte, Baemgaertel, Baemgartel, Baemgärtel, Bämgartel, Bämgärtel and Bämgaertel.

Baumgaertel is derived from the Middle High German term 'gârtel', which means 'gardener'. This can be seen in its variants, which often include a section with 'gard', 'gart', 'bûm', 'baum', 'gârt' or 'gaert' - all with similar meanings, all describing the same profession.

Baumgaertel is also an occupational name, which was used to denote a person who worked in a garden or as a gardener. Such a person would have had a strong relationship with nature, likely believing in its power and beauty. This respect for nature is reflected in the name and its variants.

In addition to the variants, there are associated surnames of the same origin that include Gartenbauer, Gärtner, Gartz and Gertel. These are derived from similar roots but, instead of focusing around the profession of a gardener, are related to the elements of 'garden' and 'builder'.

Overall, Baumgaertel is a German surname that has variants, spellings and associated surnames of the same origin. Most of these are related to the occupation of a gardener, and several of the variants reflect a strong respect for nature.

Famous people with the name Baumgaertel

• Hannelore Baumgaertel: Former East German swimmer who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• Frank Baumgaertel: Former professional German footballer who played in the Bundesliga.
• Rudolf Baumgärtel: Notable German painter and sculptor.
• Romella Baumgaertel: German actress who has appeared in television, theatre and film productions.
• Paul Baumgärtel: German composer and director of the music college in Mainz.
• Peter Baumgärtel: German historian and professor at the University of Marburg.
• Wilhelm Baumgärtel: Professor emeritus of the Goethe University in Frankfurt and prominent trade unionist.
• Julian Baumgärtel: Professional German volleyball player who plays for the VfB Friedrichshafen team in the German Volleyball League.
• Ken Baumgärtel: Grandson of Wilhelm Baumgärtel, who is an illustrator, cartoonist and animator.
• Elisabeth Baumgärtel: German architect and professor at the Saarland University of Applied Sciences.

Other surnames

Baumgaertner