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ArchivesDutch name Boukje
I have heard that name on a young woman. Do you have any information about it?
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Correcting some errors here....
First, I think Siegfried gave a somewhat erroneous explanation because either Dutch is not his native language, or his interpretation of the information that he found was erroneous.
None of the names mentioned are German. They are of Germanic origin, yes - but not German. There is a difference.
Therefore, Anneza is wrong in her speculation. Just because the name looks similar to a German word, doesn't mean it is likely derived from that particular German word. Also, Dutch people have never given their children a first name that refers to an occupation - only surnames can be occupational. And since Dutch naming law strictly prohibits to give children surnames as first names, there exists no one with Bauer as a first name or a name that is derived from it. The same goes for Germany (which also hosts a Frisian-speaking population).
With that said... Boukje is a variant spelling of Baukje, which in turn is the feminine form of Bauke (which has Bouke for a variant spelling). Bauke is a unisex name (though far more common on men) and it is a diminutive form of Baue, the name that Siegfried had mentioned earlier. The meaning of Baue is unfortunately uncertain, because it is indeed highly abbreviated and distorted. It could be derived from Bavo/Bovo and Buo, but no one will ever know for sure. Bovo and Buo are not featured in the database at the website of the Meertens Instituut, but Bavo is. Even the origin of Bavo is uncertain: it is speculated that it may be a short form of a name containing the Germanic element badu "battle", or the Germanic element barn "child" via its Middle English form babe (this is not as unthinkable as it may sound, as there was commercial traffic between Frisia and the Britons in history, which partly explains why e.g. Old Frisian is so similar to Old English).
First, I think Siegfried gave a somewhat erroneous explanation because either Dutch is not his native language, or his interpretation of the information that he found was erroneous.
None of the names mentioned are German. They are of Germanic origin, yes - but not German. There is a difference.
Therefore, Anneza is wrong in her speculation. Just because the name looks similar to a German word, doesn't mean it is likely derived from that particular German word. Also, Dutch people have never given their children a first name that refers to an occupation - only surnames can be occupational. And since Dutch naming law strictly prohibits to give children surnames as first names, there exists no one with Bauer as a first name or a name that is derived from it. The same goes for Germany (which also hosts a Frisian-speaking population).
With that said... Boukje is a variant spelling of Baukje, which in turn is the feminine form of Bauke (which has Bouke for a variant spelling). Bauke is a unisex name (though far more common on men) and it is a diminutive form of Baue, the name that Siegfried had mentioned earlier. The meaning of Baue is unfortunately uncertain, because it is indeed highly abbreviated and distorted. It could be derived from Bavo/Bovo and Buo, but no one will ever know for sure. Bovo and Buo are not featured in the database at the website of the Meertens Instituut, but Bavo is. Even the origin of Bavo is uncertain: it is speculated that it may be a short form of a name containing the Germanic element badu "battle", or the Germanic element barn "child" via its Middle English form babe (this is not as unthinkable as it may sound, as there was commercial traffic between Frisia and the Britons in history, which partly explains why e.g. Old Frisian is so similar to Old English).
This message was edited 8/13/2010, 6:43 PM
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Thank you!
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I've searched this name here: http://www.meertens.knaw.nl/voornamen/vnb/
It seems to be a relatively common name in Friesland and it derives from the male name Baue. Baue is a highly abbreviated and distorted (in a childlike manner) German name, or possibly from the names Bavo, Bovo, Buo.
Many Frisian names have this child-distortion origin.
A similar name with apparently the same origin is Baukje
It seems to be a relatively common name in Friesland and it derives from the male name Baue. Baue is a highly abbreviated and distorted (in a childlike manner) German name, or possibly from the names Bavo, Bovo, Buo.
Many Frisian names have this child-distortion origin.
A similar name with apparently the same origin is Baukje
1
If Baue is a distortion of a German name, might that German name be Bauer (= Farmer)? (Not technically a name, I suppose.) Then a -je or -kje ending, which is a diminutive, would indicate a feminine form ... so something like Little Farm Girl or Country Girl.
It might perhaps also be linkable to Bau- = Bold, as in Archibald or Baldwin (Dutch: Boudewijn).
It might perhaps also be linkable to Bau- = Bold, as in Archibald or Baldwin (Dutch: Boudewijn).
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