Surname Bonauer - Meaning and Origin
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Bonauer: What does the surname Bonauer mean?
The last name Bonauer is an occupational surname derived from Middle High German, indicating a baker or farmer. It likely originated in southeastern Germany, where there is a small town named Bonau.
The name is thought to have developed from the Old High German elements bos (“bean,” “pulse”) and hewer (“hoe,” “digger”), indicating someone who tilled the land or grew and sold beans. The surname likely originated from people who were farmers or bakers and it came to indicate an occupation.
The first recorded use of the surname Bonauer was in the Middle Ages. Records indicate that one Bonauer family lived in the region of Baden-Wurttemberg and had a bakery business in Ochsenau. Over time, other families with this surname spread to various parts of Europe.
Today, the Bonauer surname is found in many countries, including the United States, Germany, Austria, Romania, and Australia. The name Bonauer is also related to similar names such as Bonau, Bonar, Bonanos, Bonarelli, Bonavita, and Bondur.
In summary, the last name Bonauer is an occupational surname derived from Middle High German, which likely indicates a farmer or baker. It was first recorded in the Middle Ages and today is found in many countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisBonauer: Where does the name Bonauer come from?
The last name Bonauer is most prevalent in Germany today. According to researcher John Verstraten, the name is found mainly in southwestern German states such as Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg. This name appears to have Germanic origins, and is thought to have derived from a tribal name - "Bona-auer-um" which means "from behind the river". The name also has links to the Rhineland-Palatinate region where the River Ahr flows.
Bonauer is an uncommon surname today. It is not found among the top 500 German surnames. The US Census Bureau has also recorded few mentions of this surname in the United States. According to the 2019 US Census report, Bonauer is only found in 9 of the 3000 counties in the United States. This suggests that this name is not widely spread across geographical regions, but mainly is located in one area of the country.
Despite being rare, those with the name Bonauer can trace their lineage back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these individuals have kept the name and continue to live in this region in Germany. As such, the Bonauer name is mainly associated with southwestern Germany.
Variations of the surname Bonauer
The surname Bonauer has several variants and spellings, mostly due to its German origin. It is also commonly found in different countries, such as Austria and the United States.
The most common variants of Bonauer are Bonaver, Banauer, Bonaure, Bonaurer, Bona weer, and Bona uer. Some spelling variations include Bonawer, Bonower, Bonawaer, Bonaauer, and Bonawyar.
In German, the surname has a variety of spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Breebind, Bönauer, Bönnauer, and Bohnauer. In Austria, it is spelled Böhner and Böhr. Other variants of Bonauer in Austria include Babel, Bohm, Bohmer, and Banauer.
In other countries, there are slight variations in spelling and pronunciation, such as Bonaver in France, Bonaire in the Netherlands, and Bohnar in Poland.
Overall, the surname Bonauer has a long history, with many different spellings across several countries. As it has spread throughout Europe, the spelling and pronunciation has been influenced by local dialects and languages.
Famous people with the name Bonauer
- Christopher Bonauer: Actor, who has appeared in shows like Stalker and The Gates, and movies such as Ted 2 and Cowboys & Aliens.
- Mark Bonauer: Professional baseball player, who played for the Minnesota Twins during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
- Stuart Bonauer: Professional American football player, who played kicker for the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets.
- Aaron Bonauer: Professional football player, who currently plays for the Grand Rapids Rampage, a team in the Arena Football League.
- Roy Bonauer: American musician, best known as lead singer of the band ZZ Top.
- Paul Bonauer: Former Major League Baseball player, who played catcher for the Detroit Tigers during the 1937 season.
- Jesse Bonauer: Professional ice hockey player, who has played for teams in both the ECHL and the British Elite Ice Hockey League.
- Adam Bonauer: Professional tennis player, currently ranked 522 in the ATP singles rankings.
- Mike Bonauer: Basketball coach, head coach for Pacific University of Oregon.
- John Bonauer: Author and playwright, who wrote the play When the Gringos Came to Town.