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ArchivesMeaning of Surname Bollinger?
Just wondering what the definitive meaning of Bollinger is. It was my grandma's maiden name, her family had lived in Missouri stretching back many generations to 1738 when the Bullinger name became Bollinger, brought from Switzerland. One source I found, from houseofnames.com, says the meaning of Bollinger is Old French in origin, used in Britain, meaning 'the baker'. I find this explanation less likely; as another source, from ancestry.com suggests that Bollinger is habitational in origin, from a village in Switzerland named Bollingen. The only problem I've found with this source is that there is little information online about that village aside from a large amount of information about a tower built there by Carl Jung, which doesn't help me much. Just wondering if anyone has info on the Bollinger surname and if it really did originate from Bollingen, I would like to know more about Bollingen AND the etymology behind 'Bollingen'.
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I also descend from the Missouri Bollinger's. I have done quite a lot of research on my Bollinger line, including going to Missouri to do research. There is a book called "The Bollinger Connection" which is very expensive to buy but can be borrowed from several libraries. I was able to find it in the libraries in Stoddard County MO. and make specific copies. Orencia Bollinger who wrote the book starts with her trip to Germany. and she lists the Swiss connection to the Bollinger name including early records of priests and artists who were from the Swiss/German area. She was never able to prove who our immigrant, Henrich Bollinger, descended from, but it was definitely our Bollinger line. Especially interesting is the story of how they left North Carolina and crossed the Mississippi on 3 feet of ice and arrived in the Spanish Territory Jan 1, 1800. A lot still to learn.
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With a Swiss origin you can be quite sure that the family name derives from the place name. I think the Old French hypothesis (the modern French word for baker is boulanger) can be safely discarded.
The Swiss place name is probably derived from an Old High German given name Bollo or Bolo. The name can be found in Förstemann, 1900, Altdeutsches Namenbuch, but Förstemann only gives some educated guess with very hedging language: "I think of Middle High German buole (m and f) "husband, brother, friend" an it is striking that the word does not show up in Old Norse nor Anglo-Saxon". He discusses some alternatives later on.
The Swiss place name is probably derived from an Old High German given name Bollo or Bolo. The name can be found in Förstemann, 1900, Altdeutsches Namenbuch, but Förstemann only gives some educated guess with very hedging language: "I think of Middle High German buole (m and f) "husband, brother, friend" an it is striking that the word does not show up in Old Norse nor Anglo-Saxon". He discusses some alternatives later on.
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Wes,
The name originates in Germanic area of Europe, and has to do with a river I will have to dig out my copy of the family tree. The family first came to the US and settled in the Pennsylvania area. Part of the Family then moved to South Carolina which then had some of those move onto Missouri. My part of the family branches off of the Missouri branch and moves onto California.
I don't put much stock into the house of names meaning of the name but it might be accurate, but our family comes from the Swiss/German Lineage.
The name originates in Germanic area of Europe, and has to do with a river I will have to dig out my copy of the family tree. The family first came to the US and settled in the Pennsylvania area. Part of the Family then moved to South Carolina which then had some of those move onto Missouri. My part of the family branches off of the Missouri branch and moves onto California.
I don't put much stock into the house of names meaning of the name but it might be accurate, but our family comes from the Swiss/German Lineage.
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Hi!! I have been trying to find information on my last name meaning/origin as well as my family history. Maybe someone here can help? I keep getting dead ends and cannot afford the DNA/genealogy tests nor the fees some sites charge to give you information 😕 Can anyone help or lead me in the right direction that doesn't cost any money?? Lol I would be forever grateful.
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I am your sixth cousin I believe check ancestry.
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Fred,
Thank you very much for the information you shared. I am in relation to the Bollinger family located in SC. I am searching for any information in regards to the lineage and would love to talk further with you about it. Would it be possible to talk more? Thank you again.
Regards,
E. Hunt
Thank you very much for the information you shared. I am in relation to the Bollinger family located in SC. I am searching for any information in regards to the lineage and would love to talk further with you about it. Would it be possible to talk more? Thank you again.
Regards,
E. Hunt
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You'll find the origin of Bollinger at tinyurl.com/yacoxjwm as well as in the surname dictionary Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung (see tinyurl.com/y8w6ddlq). The first migrant from Switzerland to the US is listed at tinyurl.com/yb6ge85r, inter alia. For the current distribution of the surname in Germany and Switzerland, see tinyurl.com/2fwghf.
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My family are the Bollinger’s from Bollinger County, Mo. they immigrated from the Palatinate area of Germany. Then Immigrated to Pennsylvania and moved into Newton Conover, NC before settling in Missouri. My grandfather said the family name was Swiss in origins. I doubt that it really is because the family was in Germany for many, many generations before leaving Europe and there is no proof, just a lot of guessing.
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My Grandma was a Bollinger out of PA. They moved to DE I think in early 50 or late 40’s. I have a twin that did the DNA testing. Are blood line is the same as you guys talk about here. So cool her name was Anamae Bollinger before marriage. Any shout outs?
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