Surname Benke - Meaning and Origin

Benke: What does the surname Benke mean?

The last name Benke is derived from the Middle High German word 'benke' meaning 'small bench', from the word 'bank' meaning 'bench'. It is an occupational surname, which was likely first borne by a carpenter or joiner.

The Benke name is most commonly found around Westphalia in Germany, as well as many other parts of Europe. It is also quite common in the United States, especially in the Midwest region, with many families having emigrated over the years.

The Benke surname has evolved slightly over the years and is now found in various forms, such as Bennke, Bennk, Bendke, Bank, and Benkele. It has also been suggested that the original Benke may have been derived from a first name of similar origin, and that it was derived from either Benedict or Bero.

The Benke surname is a reflection of the carpenters and joiners who worked diligently before us, and is a testament to the skill of those so practised in their trade. It is also used as a reminder of the many families who have passed through the hands of time and left behind a lasting legacy.

Benke: Where does the name Benke come from?

The surname Benke is most common in Germany today. The majority of individuals bearing this name can be found in the regions of Bavaria, Saxony, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The surname Benke is also found in Denmark. Although there is not a significant number of this surname here the Danish people with this name are mostly concentrated in Jutland, with some in the northern city of Aalborg.

In the United States, the surname Benke is much less common. It is found in places such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, both states with large Germanic-American populations, as well as in New York, California, and Texas.

The surname Benke is also a part of the surnames of people from neighbouring countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, and other eastern European countries, where its spelling and pronunciation may be slightly different.

The Benke surname has an interesting past as it derived from the Germanic personal name ‘Benno’. The original bearer was someone who was thought to act like a bear or have a bear-like spirit, hence the use of ‘Bear’ in the surname’s construction.

Given its Germanic roots, the surname Benke will likely remain quite common in Germany and amongst those with German heritage living in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Benke

The surname Benke is a German occupational name derived from the word ‘bank’, which translates to mean ‘bench’. It is believed that the name originated with someone who worked as a carpenter or bench maker. Over time, different variants, spellings, and surnames have developed from the original Benke surname, including Benck, Bencken, Bencker, and Benkey.

The Benke surname can also be found in Finland with the spelling of Benkei or Benge. In Norway, the surname is often found as Bencke, Bencke-Hansen or Bencke-Larsen. Central and Eastern Europe spellings of the surname include Bank, Banc, Banck, Banks, Banke, Banki, Bankey, Banka, Bankovska, Bankovski, and Bankokral.

In Hungary, the surname is often found as Benkő, while in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria it can be found as Benko, Benkovský, Benkó, Benický, Benke, and Benkai. In Poland, the Benke surname appears as Banka, Bank, Banki, Bankowa, Bankowy, and Banklewicz.

The Benke surname is also found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the United States. In the US, spellings often appear as Bank, Benk, Benz, Benke, Banks, Banker, Benedict, and Banck. There is also a Dutch version of the surname, Banken, and a French version, Banque.

Regardless of the variant, spelling or surname, the Benke originates from ‘bank’ and has been adapted over generations to reflect regional and cultural differences.

Famous people with the name Benke

• Alexander Benke: a professional snowboarder and the two-time European champion.
• Christian Benke: a German actor and presenter.
• Jürgen Benkler: a former German footballer.
• Martin Benke: a Swedish professional ice hockey player.
• Dani Benke: a Swedish ice hockey player.
• Harald Benke: a former German footballer.
• Pernilla Benke: a Swedish handball goalkeeper.
• Joakim Benke: a Swedish ice hockey player.
• Jens Benke: a former German footballer.
• Isabell Benke: a German saxophonist and composer.
• Zsolt Benke: a former Slovenian long-distance runner.
• Alfred Benke: a former German footballer.
• Karoly Benke: a former Hungarian professional footballer.
• Peter Benke: a former German footballer.
• Abihu Benke: a former Israeli footballer.
• Lasse Benke: a Swedish professional football player
• Günter Benke: a German retired rower.
• Oskar Benke: a German football coach and former player.
• Peter Benke: a German race driver and manager.
• Konrad Benke: a former Polish boxer.

Other surnames

BenkamlaBenkenBenkendorfBenkendorffBenkensBenkiewiczBenkingBenkstein