Surname Burkl - Meaning and Origin
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Burkl: What does the surname Burkl mean?
The last name Burkl is an German occupational surname of ancient origin. It was originally a name given to a person who worked in a "barchild," or barony, a term used throughout the Middle Ages for a manor or estate that was held under a single lord's jurisdiction. This lord's authority could include a judicial court, the right to hunt, and the power to collect taxes. The name itself is derived from the German word "barke," meaning "shield," which gave a visual representation of the authority and jurisdiction of the lord.
The suffix "-l" was added to the name, as was customary in German names of that time period. It is believed that this ending was used to indicate a particular trade or occupation. Thus, those who held the surname Burkl were associated with working in a barony, and the duties would likely have included building or maintaining the estate, collecting taxes and rents, and/or serving as bodyguards or other affiliates for the lord of the estate.
Over the last several centuries, the name has evolved and can now indicate different branches of the same family. In some cases, the "-l" has been dropped off of the surname with different branches of the same family using the same last name, albeit without the suffix.
Regardless of the changes that it has undergone, the name Burkl still indicates an impressive feudal heritage that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is a reminder of a time when a person's occupation and social status were intrinsically linked to their family name.
Order DNA origin analysisBurkl: Where does the name Burkl come from?
The surname Burkl (also Burkal, Burkel, Bercel, and Berkell) is a typical example of an Ashkenazic Jewish surnames, borne by Jews of Central and Eastern European descent. The surname is perhaps related to a Jewish name given to a son of the biblical Jacob, usually spelled Birksait/Birchas (בִּרְכָּסַי) in Hebrew, and could have developed from the early 19th century when Jews were forced to take on surnames with Registries throughout the region.
The name is most common today in the United States. The most dense concentrations are in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, California, and Illinois, as well as Canada, mainly Ontario. According to the US Census, there are about 350 individuals with the last name Burkl living in the US. It is also believed to have some appearance in the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, and Israel, but the numbers are not known.
Furthermore, information on the modern day Burkl’s is difficult to pin-point. The majority of modern-day Burkl’s are believed to be living in either the US or Canada. The individual’s in question are of a variety of backgrounds, ranging from business professionals to lawyers and doctors. The general sentiment among the members of the community is of pride, as no matter their beliefs or practices, the surname is a reminder of their heritage, and the hardships their ancestors went through to make it to the new world.
Variations of the surname Burkl
The surname Burkl is of German origin and is variant of Berkel or Berkley. It is derived from the placename of the city of Berkel, located in the Lower Rhine region.
Berkel is a variation of the given name “Berchol,” which is a combination of the German words “Ber” and “hol” meaning “bear” and “wood.” Therefore, some consider Berkel to mean “woodland of the bear,” or “ Bear-Ridge.”
Common variants and spellings of the surname Burkl include Burkel, Berkel, Berkele, Burgerle, Bergle, Bergel, and Burkley.
Other surnames of similar origin and derivation include Berke, Berk, Kerkel, Berkelmann, Berckel, and Berkholz. All of these surnames can be traced back to their source of origin, the German city of Berkel.
The surnames Burgl, Burgle, Burgele, Bergele, and Burkell are also fairly common and have origins in German surname practice as well.
Additionally, there are several loan-words and non-German variants of the same surname. These variations include Burka, Berckel, Berchal, Berchenko, Buerkle, Berckel, Berka, Berchem, and Berkenboom.
Famous people with the name Burkl
- Eveline Maria Burkl: Austrian singer-songwriter and composer.
- Alexandra Burkl: German snowboarder and professional stunt double.
- Günther Burkl: Austrian politician and former mayor of Salzburg.
- Kurt Burkl: German ski jumper.
- Michael Burkl: Former manager for the German Bundesliga soccer team TSV 1860 Munich.
- David Burkl: German entrepreneur.
- Johannes Burkl: Austrian mathematician.
- Christian Burkl: Professional ice hockey player in Germany's DEL2 league.
- Lawrence Burkl: American WWI ace and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.
- Inken Burkl: Actress and theater director, most famously featured in the TV show "Heldt."