Surname Ancker - Meaning and Origin
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Ancker: What does the surname Ancker mean?
The last name Ancker is of German origin and first gained prominence in the city of Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France. The name is derived from the German word "anker," meaning "anchor." As such, the Ancker surname has historically been associated with seafaring people or those connected to the nautical industry, such as sailors, fishermen, shipbuilders, etc.
The Ancker name is primarily found in Germany, particularly the area around the Rhineland. Until the 18th century, Ancker was also recorded in many areas of Switzerland, including Zurich, Berne, Basel, Lucerne, and Zurich. In the United States, the name can be found in places where German immigrants settled in the 19th century, such as Pennsylvania and New York.
Today, Ancker is a common surname in Germany. Records show that the name has been held by people of various backgrounds, from wealthy merchants to working class citizens.
Ancker is a versatile name that indicates its German roots and connection to the sea. It has served as the foundation of countless German surnames throughout the centuries, and is sure to continue being a part of the German family tree.
Order DNA origin analysisAncker: Where does the name Ancker come from?
The last name Ancker is most commonly found in Germany. According to data from ancestry.com, it ranked as the 44,081st most common surname in Germany in 2020, placing it in the top 6.5% of German surnames. The Ancker name is found most frequently among German states including the Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Wurttemberg.
The Ancker name originated in the Mittelalter period, in which it was adopted to signify a person from Ankequite, a small village located in the Flemish region of Belgium. As a result, many of those bearing the name today are descendants of immigrants from this area. Over time, the Ancker name migrated with its holders across Europe, particularly to Germany where many Flemish immigrants settled. The name remains in use to this day, primarily in German-speaking parts of Europe.
In the US, Ancker is the 55,689th most common name as of 2020. Most Anckers in the US are descendants of English and German immigrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Mexico, this name is also quite common, being the 53,637th most common name as of 2020. Mexican Anckers are usually of German descent, which underscores the continuity of the Ancker name beyond its traditional origins in Belgium.
Variations of the surname Ancker
Ancker is a surname from several countries, with several variant spellings and forms, including the variants Anckar, Anckarström, Ankars (Swedish), Anca, Anchie, Anckers, Acheson, Ankerman, Ankersen, and Ankerstrom.
The surname is of Danish, Dutch, and German origin, all stemming from the given name Ancke, which was derived from the Greek name Anax, meaning "king." The name arrived in various regions of Europe in different forms, and developed multiple spellings over time. Ancker was the great grandfather of Hans Christian Andersen, the author of the famous fairytales.
The Anker spelling is popular in German-speaking areas, while the Anckar spelling is most popular in Sweden, and the Acheson spelling is common in English-speaking countries. Anckers is also a variation of the Dutch and German origins.
Anker is also a Jewish surname of German or Yiddish origin, and has various spellings based on the location of the person. For example, the spelling Acker is found in South Africa, and the spelling Anckar is found in Hungary, among other places.
The most common spelling of the surname Ancker in the United States is Ancker, and its roots can be traced to the before-mentioned Swedish origins. In addition, the English variants Acheson and Anker often appear in records of the Caribbean, where the name was adopted from Dutch and German settlers.
Famous people with the name Ancker
- Ellert Ancker, Norwegian soccer player.
- Gunnar Ancker, Swedish dramatist.
- Christian Ancker, Danish baron and courtier.
- Jonas Ancker, Swedish artist.
- Johannes Ancker, German philosopher and theologian.
- Henrik Ancker, Swedish tennis player.
- Sverre Ancker, Norwegian military leader.
- Harald Ancker, Danish actor.
- Joakim Ancker, Swedish veterinarian.
- Fredrik Ancker, Swedish engineer and inventor.
- Christian Ancker- Nielsen, Danish journalist and politician.