Surname Anke - Meaning and Origin
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Anke: What does the surname Anke mean?
The last name Anke is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the given name "Ancke," which was a Low German diminutive of Anna. It is believed to have originally been a patronymic name, created from the father's first name, and used to identify families.
The name Anke is associated with many different spellings, including Anken, Ancker, Ankle, Ankeny, and Ankney. Though its meaning is uncertain, some believe it to be related to the German word "anke," meaning "victory" or "triumphance."
The name Anke is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands, where it first originated. From there, it spread to other parts of Europe and the United States, and is now used by families all over the globe.
Anke is a strong, powerful surname that harkens back to a time of ancient roots. Its modern-day carriers can likely be proud to carry a name of German origin, steeped in tradition and a sense of triumph and victory.
Order DNA origin analysisAnke: Where does the name Anke come from?
The last name Anke is most commonly found in Germany. It is also found in small numbers in the Netherlands, United States, Austria, and Switzerland.
Originally derived from the Hebrew name "Hanoch," the surname Anke was commonly used by people living in central Europe and the surrounding areas. The meaning of the name "Anke" is unknown, but it is believed to stem from the nickname for the Jewish people of the same name. Over the centuries, the name Anke has evolved to mean something else, such as a good friend, and may also simply be a reference to the family name of its bearer.
Today, the surname Anke is associated with people of German origin. It is most commonly shared by those living in the northern regions of Germany, such as Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. In the Netherlands, Anke is found in small numbers, primarily in the Netherlands farming communities.
The Anke family has left its mark on the history of various European countries. Anke has spawned various influential people, including the 18th century German physicist and philosopher, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz; the Dutch mathematician, physicist and philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who was popular in his home country; and the German theologian and philosopher, George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
In the United States, the Anke surname can be found most commonly in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but there are trace amounts of people with the name Anke living across the country.
Overall, the last name Anke is most commonly associated with Germany, but can be found in small numbers throughout various European countries and the United States.
Variations of the surname Anke
The surname Anke is of German and Dutch origin which can be found throughout Europe. It has several spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin, including Ange, Annewa, Annewag, Annowa, Annwee, Annowag, Annweg, Annowagge, Amber, Ambry, Ammer and Ambrye.
Anke is generally thought to be an occupational or descriptive name which originates from the Middle German word 'Anke' meaning ‘metal device used in baking’. In some cases, it is thought to indicate a family originating from the town of ‘Anke’ in Westphalia, Germany.
The most commonly given surname variants for Anke are Ange and Annewa, with Ambry and Amber being somewhat less common. The Anke spelling of the surname is usually found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark, whereas Ange and Annewa are generally used in Belgium and northern France. Amber and Ambry are found mainly in the United States and Canada.
At least over the past few centuries, many of the surname variants have become quite interchangeable. For instance, in the Netherlands, both Anke and Ange are used almost equally, with Ange being more common in Flanders.
In some cases, Anke may have emerged as a nickname for people with red hair or peachy skin, considering the Middle Dutch word 'oncr' meaning 'red' and the Middle Dutch prefix 'anke-' meaning 'like an'.
Although surname variants have often been interchangeable in various parts of Europe, some families may have opted to use a particular spelling for a variety of reasons such as accuracy in record-keeping or cultural pride.
Famous people with the name Anke
- Udo Anke: German Christian Democrat politician.
- Jochen Anke: German footballer and manager currently managing German fourth-tier side FC Gütersloh.
- Christian Anke: German sports journalist and television presenter.
- Günther Anke: German politician and former mayor of the city of Mainz.
- Ralf Anke: German free-lance photographer and multimedia artist.
- Michael Anke: German composer and music producer.
- Stephan Anke: German sculptor and art professor.
- Jan Anke: Dutch lawyer and politician who served as Dutch Senator for D66 from 2003-2009.
- Thomas Anke: German evangelical theologian, professor of practical theology, and current director of the Institute for Ecumenical Studies of the University of Muenster.
- Hans-Hermann Anke: German engineer and former Chief Technical Officer of the Association of German Engineers.