Surname Anskeit - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Anskeit: What does the surname Anskeit mean?
The last name Anskeit is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name Anskar, which is composed of two elements-- ans, which means “god,” and gar, which means “spear.” Together the two elements create the meaning “god's spear.” This personal name enjoys some mastification and spelling variation over time, resulting in Anskeit as a surname.
Anskeit is rarely found in the United States. Those individuals bearing the name can be found primarily in Germany, but the name is also found in some other German-speaking countries.
Anskeit is a surname that shows a strong sense of faith and reverence for God. It communicates the idea that, in its bearer, God has imparted a righteous strength and symbolizes a powerful symbol of courage. The name has likely been passed down through generations of believers who emigrated from Germany, seeking richer opportunities in the New World, and who held onto their beliefs with a deep conviction.
Today, Anskeit carries with it a strong spiritual meaning. Those who bear the name Anskeit often feel connected to the spiritual ideas of faith, courage, and strength embodied by their ancestors who first carried it. This connection is one of the unique ways that names connect generations of family, and this spiritual element has been preserved for modern-day Anskeits.
Order DNA origin analysisAnskeit: Where does the name Anskeit come from?
The last name Anskeit is most frequently found within Europe, particularly in the countries of Lithuania and Germany. It is believed to have originated in the Germanic language, with records of a branch of the Anskeit family being found in the Lutheran parish of Weige, near Frankfurt-Main in Germany.
In Lithuania the name has likely been in use since at least the mid-18th century, when records started being kept of family names. The name is also found in the regions of Latvia and Estonia, though it is much rarer there.
Today the Anskeit name is most common in public records in Lithuania, where it is the 3344th most common name out of over 20,000 surnames registered. Across Europe as a whole, it ranks 45,360 out of approximately 140,000 unique last names.
It is particularly prevalent amongst those living in the city of Marijampole, being the 50th most common surname there. It is also amongst the most common names in the towns of Charkov and Kyiv, in the neighbouring country of Ukraine.
The Anskeit name is not particularly common in North America, likely due to difficulties of records keeping across the Atlantic Ocean during the 17th and 18th centuries. It may still be possible to find Anskeit’s living in the United States as their ancestors may have emigrated from Europe during the 20th century.
Variations of the surname Anskeit
The surname Anskeit is one of many variations and spellings of a surname which originated in German-speaking countries. Variations of the surname include Ankney, Anskei, Ahnskeit, Ankeit, Ahnseit, Anceit, and Anskie. Surnames with similar phonetic origins include Aisch, Aishe, Aish, AICH, Aichel, Aichelberg, Aichelburg, and Akelan.
Genealogists often speculate that the source of Anskeit may have been derived from a Germanic root word “ans” meaning “ancestral” or “of old”. The surname is likely a toponymic surname referring to someone who came from or lived near an area named as such. It has been suggested that the name originated from a place called Aenkeith, now located in the town of Hofheim, near Mainz in Germany.
Many records of this surname first appear in the records of the Palatinate region in the Rhineland-Pfalz area of Germany. This indicates that it was more commonly found in this region of the country than any other.
The surname also appears in records of emigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, many of those who bore the surname settled in the Midwest states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Over the generations, the spelling of the surname may have shifted to Anseit, Ankney, or Anceit, as well as other variations.
Despite the variations of the spelling, the same surname may be traced through the records of maps, deeds, church records, and other documents and as such it is possible to trace one’s ancestry of those with the same German-origin Variant surnames.
Famous people with the name Anskeit
- Max Anskeit, German actor
- William Anskeit, Austrian Coach and Skiier
- Maria Anskeit, German Architect
- Joachim Anskeit, German Painter
- Alex Anskeit, American Football Player
- Anna Anskeit, Swedish Actress
- David Anskeit, Canadian Photographer
- Carl Anskeit, Austrian Author
- Erich Anskeit, Austrian Musician
- Boris Anskeit, Russian Racecar Driver