Surname Bohlscheidt - Meaning and Origin

Bohlscheidt: What does the surname Bohlscheidt mean?

The last name Bohlscheidt is of German origin, derived from the German words bohl, meaning “hollow,” and scheid, meaning “divide” or “distinguish.” The literal meaning of Bohlscheidt, therefore, is “to distinguish in a hollow way.”

The name is an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a divider or separator of fields or plots of land. This profession was held mainly by land stewards and surveyors, who were essential to keeping track of land boundaries and ensuring that the land was used for its intended purpose. Additionally, they were tasked with preparing legal documents pertaining to the dividing of lands, so those who held this profession were also expected to be skilled in negotiations and arbitration.

The Bohlscheidt last name is not very common, as there are currently no more than 1,000 people living in Germany with this name. Those who bear this surname are likely the descendants of an individual who once held the occupation of field divider or separator all those centuries ago.

Bohlscheidt: Where does the name Bohlscheidt come from?

The last name Bohlscheidt is most commonly found in Germany, Denmark, and specifically the Northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein. According to the last name database, Bohlscheidt has been found in Germany for a few hundred years, with the earliest known record being an Abel Bohlscheidt from 1746. Similarly, the parish registers of Denmark's Aarhus Municipality record a member of the Bohlscheidt family in 1732, further indicating that the name may have come from an immigration to Northern Europe.

Today, the largest concentration of the last name Bohlscheidt is still in the Northern German region of Schleswig-Holstein. In the city of Rendsburg, records from 2019 indicate that at least 241 individuals bore the Bohlscheidt surname. Additionally, the last name spread a bit into Hamburg, with at least a couple dozen people bearing the Bohlscheidt surname at the start of the 21st century. The last name also appears in smaller numbers elsewhere in Germany, as well as Denmark, the Netherlands, and users of a few online genealogy services based in the United States.

Overall, the last name Bohlscheidt is a relatively uncommon one, but it still enjoys a presence in Northern Germany and Denmark, as well as other scattered regions.

Variations of the surname Bohlscheidt

The surname Bohlscheidt is derived from the Middle High German word “buhleschied”, meaning “cutter” or “woodcutter”. The spelling variants of Bohlscheidt include Bolschied, Bolscheid, Bolscheidt, Bolschiedt, Bolscheit, Bolschiet, Bolschiett, Boleschiedt, Buhlschied, Buhlschiedt, Bulschiet, Buhleschied, and Buhleschiedt. Common surnames of the same origin include Bols, Bolscher, Bolschers, Bolschuh, Bolschus, Bolsinger, Bolskes, Buls, Buhl, Buhls, Bulsman, Buhmann, and Bolljohann.

The surname was typically found in areas of Germany such as Rhineland, Lower Saxony, and Prussia with its medieval forms being prevalent in the 15th century. It was also found in the United States throughout the 18th century, however having the same spelling as in Germany was rare and thus the variant forms became more widely used.

Bolscher and Buhl are two of the most common surnames variations over time. Buhl is derived from the High German form of “buhel” and was likely the most popular variant in Germany. The spelling of Bolscher is an earlier form of Bolscheid and was likely popularized due to the higher frequency of the letter “o” within the name.

Bohlscheidt is a rare surname today, but its variants are still found all over the world. This historical surname serves to remind us of the important roles woodcutters played in our society many centuries ago.

Famous people with the name Bohlscheidt

• Erich Bohlscheidt: German air force officer who served as commander of the 2nd Air Corps in World War II.
• Claus-Peter Bohlscheidt: German gymnast who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• Margret Bohlscheidt: Shot putter from East Germany who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Kurt Bohlscheidt: German wrestler who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
• Ernst Bohlscheidt: German sailor who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Klaus Bohlscheidt: German pole vaulter who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
• Fritz Bohlscheidt: German athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Werner Bohlscheidt: German equestrian who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
• Alfred Bohlscheidt: German flying ace during World War I who was credited with 13 air combat victories.
• Walther Bohlscheidt: German wrestler who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
• Otto Bohlscheidt: German canoeist who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Arno Bohlscheidt: German fencer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Hans Bohlscheidt: German weightlifter who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
• Rupert Bohlscheidt: German swimmer who was a member of the German national team at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
• Wilhelm Bohlscheidt: German athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Other surnames

Bohlscheid