Surname Anklam - Meaning and Origin

Anklam: What does the surname Anklam mean?

The last name Anklam is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German ankel, which means 'corner or angle', and m, which may refer to the German word for 'meadow' or 'field'. Thus, the name Anklam likely referred to someone who lived near a corner or meadow.

The Anklam surname was established in the regions surrounding the German-speaking city of Berlin in the 1400s. Records from this period show that the Anklam name was widespread in the area. During this time, the majority of people with this name would have been farmers, laborers, artisans, and merchants.

In the present day, the Anklam last name is found primarily in Germany itself, although people bearing the name are present in many countries worldwide. It is classified as a relatively rare surname, and it is estimated to be held by approximately 3500 people throughout the world today.

The Anklam family still features prominently in German politics and history today. Members of the family were influential during the Enlightenment in the 18th century, and many distinguished figures have risen from the family since then. They have been the leaders of prominent public institutions, as well as pastors, physicians, and in other important capacities.

Anklam: Where does the name Anklam come from?

The last name Anklam is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the northern regions where it is one of the most frequently found surnames. The first recorded use of Anklam dates back to 1232 in the city of Anklam in the former East Germany, near the Poland-Germany border. Since then the surname has been tied to the city, hence the name Anklam.

Today the Anklam family can be mainly found in the northern regions of Germany, but due to immigration and diaspora, the name is also found in other parts of Germany, as well as other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, and even Australia. In total, the surname has a global frequency of around 0.001%, although in some countries, such as the United States, it has a higher frequency than this.

The meaning of the name has been speculated by scholars, and different interpretations exist. The most popular interpretation is that it comes from the old Germanic word "Ankla", which was a type of small bridge. Even today, the city of Anklam bears many features of this origin. The Anklam family is known to have a long history of military service, making it fitting with the idea of the bridge as a crossing point.

Variations of the surname Anklam

Anklam is a Germanic and Scandinavian surname derived from the city of Anklam in Pomerania, Germany. It has several variants and spellings, mostly spelt with a K or a C, such as Ancklam, Anklum, Anklom, Anclam, Anklam, Ankelm, Ankelom, Anculm, Ancom, Ankham and Ankerm.

In Denmark and Sweden, the surname is sometimes spelled Ankelmann or Anclam. The surname is also found in other nations such as Belarus and Lithuania. The Lithuanian variant is Anklamas and the Belarusian variant is Ankelman. There are also variants of the surname in the Netherlands with the spelling Anquem and in France with the spelling Anglam.

In the United States, the surname is mostly spelt with a C, such as Anclam, Anclom, Ancom and Anculm. In the United Kingdom, the spelling is mostly Anclam or Anklom. In the Netherlands, Anquem is more common. In Scandinavia, the most common spelling of the surname is Ankelmann.

Other surnames which may have originated from the same geographical area as Anklam, but may have different spellings, include Anker, Ankermüller, Ankermann, Ankerson, Ankerman, and Ankermann. It is also possible to find variants of the name in other languages, such as the Swedish Anklöf, Danish Ankerløv and Norwegian Ankele.

Famous people with the name Anklam

• Michael Anklam: A German cyclist who won a silver medal in the men's sprint at the 1993 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
• Puzz Anklam: An American hip hop artist best known as the beatboxer of the hip hop duo The Originals.
• April Anklam: A German actress known for her role in the German television series Unter Uns.
• Dan Anklam: An American swiftwater rescue specialist and rafting guide.
• Markus Anklam: A German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 1. FC Magdeburg.
• Hatice Anklam: A German volleyball player who competed in the 2006 and 2010 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship tournaments.
• Dietmar Anklam: A German ice hockey player who competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics.
• Stefan Anklam: A German actor and director known for the films Next Year and Let's Go Wild.
• Lina Anklam: A German sport shooter who competed in the 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championships and won a gold medal in the 25 m air pistol women event.
• Marlena Anklam: A German-American Olympic boxer who competed at the 2006 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships.

Other surnames

Anklamm