Surname Barkentien - Meaning and Origin
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Barkentien: What does the surname Barkentien mean?
The last name Barkentien is of Germanic origin and has two possible meanings. It can be seen as a combination of two ancient words in the German language – “Bark” and “Tien”. “Bark” means to bark as a dog, to rip, or to roar; whilst “Tien” translates to people or people in general.
These two parts together could suggest that the name originated with someone who was capable of barking out commands to a large group. Alternatively, Barkentien could represent a “roaring people”, suggesting that the family was renowned for its members’ boisterousness; either in terms of their physical presence or the sound of their voices.
The name is often associated with a prestigious family heritage, as is suggested by the use of the suffix ‘-tien’, which was generally used in Germanic surnames to denote a group of people who were related. This suggests that the Barkentien family was an ancient, respected, and noble clan.
Research into the Barkentien name reveals a number of families with this surname scattered throughout Germany, Switzerland, and much of the US – a testament to the name’s ancient roots and enduring popularity.
Order DNA origin analysisBarkentien: Where does the name Barkentien come from?
The last name Barkentien is not very common today; however, it still exists in the United States. In the 2020 US Census, 1,156 people claimed the last name Barkentien; this was a significant increase from the 535 people who recorded the name in 2010. In 2017, an estimated 363 people in the USA claimed the Barkentien last name.
In the US, the states with the largest concentrations of people with the Barkentien surname are New York, New Jersey, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The New York metropolitan area has the highest number of people claiming Barkentien as a last name.
Outside the US, the surname is rare. The United Kingdom has fewer than 20 people who claim the surname, while in Australia, the number is only five. In Norway, eight people identify themselves as Barkentien as their last name.
Netherlands is the only country where there is a relatively large number of people with the Barkentien surname. In 2017, 905 Dutch people identified as Barkentien. The Barkentien surname is common among the Dutch of Indonesian ancestry.
Despite its low prevalence, the Barkentien surname is widely dispersed around the world. In 2016, the surname was recorded in 24 countries, spanning six continents. Tracing its origins is difficult, as it is unclear exactly where the name originated.
Variations of the surname Barkentien
The surnames Barkentien, Barckentin, and Barkentin all have the same origin and can trace its roots to Germany. It is derived from the name Berchen which is a nickname for a person from Berchum, a small town near Gutersloh in northwest Germany.
The surname Barkentien has many variant spellings, including: Barkentin, Barckentin, Barkentien, Barkenthien, Barkenthin, Barkenthon, Berckentin, Berckenthin, Berckenthon, Berckentien, Borckentin, and Burkentin.
When researching family history, it is important to remember that many immigrants changed their surnames, and spellings could be adjusted during the process. As a result, variations emerged which can make searching for family history difficult. For example, the name Barkentien could be found spelled as Berckenthin or Borckentien.
It’s also important to remember that in some parts of Germany, surnames were written in a different manner prior to the 20th century. For example, the name Barkentin may have been spelled as Barkentien but became Barcketin or Borketin.
Finally, some descendants of the Barkentien family have anglicized their names, adopting alternative spellings. For example, the name Barkentin can be seen as Berkentine or Burckentin.
Therefore, researching the surname Barkentien requires one to consider all possible variations of the surname. It is important to remember that surnames often changed following immigration and to explore the many variants of Barkentien.
Famous people with the name Barkentien
- Joseph Barkentine: 19th century Canadian politician and lawyer.
- Bill Barkentine: record producer and songwriter with over a dozen Gold albums.
- Daniel Barkentine: 19th century businessman and businessman in London.
- Michael Barkentine: Lead singer of the German metal band Hypocrisy.
- Richard Barkentine: Motion Picture Producer and editor famous for the 2014 film Inherent Vice.
- Mignon Barkentine: Painter whose works are all recorded with the Early American Women Artist Collection.
- Elizabeth Barkentine: Singer, songwriter, and guitarist who was a member of the surf rock band The Ventures.
- Lyle Barkentine: 19th century American politician and Governor of Arkansas from 1909 to 1911.
- Lori Barkentine: Canadian visual artist who has exhibited in both national and international exhibitions.
- Jonathan Barkentine: Author and media peacemaker who is best known for his 2006 book “The Brink of War: Longman’s Guide to the Coming Conflict in the Middle East.”