Surname Bastke - Meaning and Origin
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Bastke: What does the surname Bastke mean?
Bastke is a German surname that originated in the early 19th century. The exact origin of the surname is uncertain, but some theories suggest that it could have been derived from the German word bast, meaning linen, or it could also be derived from the word basteln, meaning craft.
The Bastke surname was most commonly found in areas of Germany that are known as Freistaat Bayern and Nordrhein-Westfalen. It is believed that the surname was adopted by individuals who were employed for manual tasks such as making and lacing linen garments, weaving, and embroidery.
It is also possible that the Bastke surname was derived from the Old High German word person, meaning foreign. This suggests that the Bastke surname may have been adopted by individuals who relocated to Germany from abroad, thereby adding a ‘foreign’ element to the name.
The Bastke surname has spread across all corners of the world and is particularly prevalent in the United States and Canada. The name is still actively used today, with people bearing the last name playing a part in fields such as business, arts, sciences, and sports.
Order DNA origin analysisBastke: Where does the name Bastke come from?
The surname Bastke is most prominently found in Germany. It is most common in the northern and eastern parts of the country, particularly in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is also found in Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.
A smaller number of people with the surname also live in Austria and Switzerland, likely because at one point or another someone from Germany with the surname Bastke moved there.
In the United States, the surname Bastke is found mainly in communities that were settled by German immigrants. The states with the most occurrences include Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska, with a small number of people in Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa. This reflects the path that German settlers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries typically took when coming to America. There are also a few incidences of the surname in Canada, most of which trace back to German immigrants.
The surname is likely derived from the name Bastian, as is the case with many German surnames that end with -ke. Bastian itself is derived from the Latin name Sebastianus, meaning “venerable or venerable person.” Consequently, the surname Bastke likely means “son of the venerable one” or “son of Bastian” and may have historically been used as a nickname for Bastian.
Variations of the surname Bastke
The surname Bastke has several variants in spelling and surnames of potentially the same origin. Bastke is commonly seen with substitutions such as Bestke, Bastak, Bestak, Bossak, Basky, Baskes, and Bascie. Additionally, there are alternate spellings of the surname such as Bastkel, Bastkele, Bastkala, and Bostkele. These surnames can also be found with regional or cultural preferences such as Baskiewicz, Bastek, and Basko.
Variations of the surname are seen in countries around the world such as Estonia, Austria, the United Kingdom and Australia. While its spellings vary the meaning of the name most likely remains the same as it originates from the old Germanic language, which is believed to mean “an inhabitant of a stronghold” and thus likely alludes to someone with a strong foundation and fortitude as a character trait.
The surname is documented in German/Polish records as early as 1639 in the village of Osseck. Additionally, records from the early 1880s show that many members of the Bastke family immigrated to the United States from countries including Germany, Poland, and Austria.
Thus, while the spellings of the surname Bastke differ its likely origin remains the same, rooted in the old Germanic language and with many families across the world observing the surname in various spellings.
Famous people with the name Bastke
- Marcus Bastke: Marcus Bastke is a German footballer who currently plays for Mayen-Koblenz in the Oberliga.
- Tom Bastke: Tom Bastke is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the films ‘The Hangover Part II’ and ‘Role Models’.
- Jacob Bastke: Jacob Bastke is a retired professional ice hockey player, who played thirteen seasons in the NHL.
- Wolfgang Bastke: Wolfgang Bastke is a German biochemist and lecturer in biochemistry at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany.
- Georg Bastke: Georg Bastke was a German author and publisher of working class literature who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Jerry Bastke: Jerry Bastke is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants in the 1960s.
- Elfriede Bastke: Elfriede Bastke is a German mezzo soprano opera singer, known for her performances with the Leipzig University choir.
- Josef Bastke: Josef Bastke is a former bass-baritone opera singer, known for his roles in “Der Freischütz” and “Don Giovanni” with the Hamburg State Theater.
- Marie Bastke: Marie Bastke was a German actress who appeared in numerous silent films before her death in 1925.
- Wilf Bastke: Wilf Bastke was a Canadian politician and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1933 to 1941.