[Surname] What Is the Origin of Bachman?
I was bored and decided to look up my surname, Bachman. It says that the origin is Jewish and it means "son of life."
However, my family is of German-Irish and a little Swiss background and we are in no way Jewish nor have any Jewish family members. It has also been told that our surname actually means "man who lives by the brook."
I am confused. Which meaning is correct? Does anyone know the origin of Bachman? Help greatly appreciated!
"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just gotta find the ones worth suffering for."
-Bob Marley
However, my family is of German-Irish and a little Swiss background and we are in no way Jewish nor have any Jewish family members. It has also been told that our surname actually means "man who lives by the brook."
I am confused. Which meaning is correct? Does anyone know the origin of Bachman? Help greatly appreciated!
"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just gotta find the ones worth suffering for."
-Bob Marley
Replies
Many Jews fled Europe during WWII and re-invented themselves as non-Jewish. The way to know for ure is to do a DNA test. You're likely to be surprised.
Bachman is an alteration of German Bachmann which denotes a man from one of the many places named Bach, the meaning of which is 'stream, brook'. The Jewish name Bachman has the same origin, and the proposed etymology ben chayim 'son of life' is nonsense.
I'm Jewish myself, and many Jews of Ashkenazic origin adopted many German surnames. Just like the common Russian surname Sokolov but many Russian Jews have this surname as well. Anyway, we can trace the origin of Bachman in early history can be trace to Bavaria where the name Bachmann with the tribal conflict of the area. They grew alliegence with the princes and nobles, it was told they struggle for power and status in the region of Bavaria. They branch into many houses and their contributions were sought by many leaders in search of powere for the region. That's a early German history of the surname I heard. I probably didn't explain it that good but I know websites and books can :). Now maybe some of are experts on here can give us the true meaning.
I am Bachmann but they is nothing about my family the Bachmann that l know