Surname Amelunke - Meaning and Origin
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Amelunke: What does the surname Amelunke mean?
The last name Amelunke is an occupational German surname. The surname is derived from the word "Ameln," which means "miller" or "corn miller." It is thought that this name is associated with a worker who owned or operated a mill for grinding grain, usually for local farmers. The word "elunke" is derived from the Middle Low German word "luken," which means "to look." It could mean that the original bearer of this surname worked at a mill that had a tower where he could look out for customers.
In terms of frequency, the surname Amelunke is quite uncommon, particularly in North America; in fact, this name is not found in the United States at all. It is, however, found in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Within Germany, Amelunke is most frequent in the states of Bavaria, followed by Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The highest incidence in the states is in the counties of Hessen, Bavaria, and Rheinland-Pfalz.
Overall, the last name Amelunke is not on anyone's top list of common surnames, but it is an interesting one as it is associated with an occupation that is largely forgotten today.
Order DNA origin analysisAmelunke: Where does the name Amelunke come from?
The last name Amelunke is most commonly seen in Europe today. Specifically, the name is concentrated mainly in Germany, where it is a fairly common surname. The name is a fairly old name, deriving from the Germanic Middle Ages in the early 8th century. Back then, the name was used to denote nobility, and in many instances, it was eventually adopted as a hereditary surname.
In Germany, the Amelunke surname is often found in the Bavarian and Westphalian regions of the country, although it is also present in other German states, such as Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. In Poland, the name is somewhat less common, but it is still frequently encountered in the western region of Mazovia, around the city of Ostrów Mazowiecka.
Due to the Germanic nature of the surname, it is likely that many places around the world that were once ruled by German-speaking people during the Middle Ages have kept records of the name's occurrence. Nevertheless, Germans and their descendants have since become well-traveled, and today, a cursory search online can reveal many instances of modern-day Amelunkes all over the world.
Variations of the surname Amelunke
The surname Amelunke is an uncommon one, but it may be seen spelled as Amelunk, Amelunck, and Ammelunke. It may also be seen as a variant of the surname Amelang.
Amelang is an old Germanic name that was originally derived from the personal name Amalung, a combination of two words meaning "work" and "heredity". This one first seen in documents in 1225 in Germany. It may also be seen spelled as Amalang, Amelung, Amelang, Amelance, Ammelang, Ammelung, Ameleung, Ameligi, Amelein, and Amilang.
Amelunke is also related to the German surname Amelungen, which is found mostly in the both the Uckermark region of Germany and the Zorge region of the Harz mountains. Amelungen is derived from the dialectal German word "Amelänger", meaning those who lived near or belonging to a settlement name Amelung. It may also seen spelled as Amelingen, Amelunge, Amalungen, and Amelinck.
Other related surnames include Amelonge, also found in Zorge, Germany, as well as Ameling, Amelinghausen, Amelangl, and Amelonge, all of which are variations of the same surname. Ammelung is another related surname, which is a variant of the Scottish surname Ammelong, referring to a place in Scotland.
The surname Amelunke may have also been changed over time into other related surnames, including Amelacker, Amelichen, and Amelrius.
Famous people with the name Amelunke
- Martin Amelunke: Former professional football player, retired in 2017.
- Philip Amelunke: The long-serving president of the German Tennis Association.
- Ernst Amelunke: German opera singer and arranger who achieved international fame with his performances of black spirituals.
- Friedrich Amelunke: German painter who drew mostly religious paintings, especially of angels and saints.
- Christoph Amelunke: Orchestral conductor who has conducted for acclaimed orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic.
- Rebecca Amelunke: Canadian-American actress who is best known for her roles in film and television in the US and UK.
- Friedrich Amelunke: Major-General in the Prussian army and later head marshal and high councilor of Prussia.
- Frieda Amelunke: Award-winning playwright and lyricist whose works have been produced on stages in Europe and America.
- Robert Amelunke: Award-winning photographer specializing in portrait and fashion photography.
- Kristin Amelunke: German classical singer and songwriter with several top ten hits on the German charts.