Surname Boenke - Meaning and Origin

Boenke: What does the surname Boenke mean?

Boenke is a surname of German, Dutch and Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin. Its literal translation is 'bean-man', which suggests an occupational name for someone who worked with beans. It is likely derived from the Middle German word 'boneke', which referred to a chamber pot that could also be filled with beans as a form of currency.

The surname Boenke may have been adopted by a variety of different people. For example, it could have been adopted by someone who was already working with beans, thus taking the name as an occupational surname. Alternatively, it may have been adopted by a Jewish family during the 14th century German migration into the Netherlands, as many Jews adopted surnames at this time.

The Boenke surname first appears in records around the 16th century, when Martin Boenke is listed in Lippe, Germany in 1525. The Boenke surname has now spread to many different countries, although it is most common in the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. It is also found in Belgium, Canada, and Switzerland.

This suggests that the Boenke surname is likely to have been adopted by people from multiple countries, social classes, and backgrounds, which highlights the diverse uses of surnames throughout history.

Boenke: Where does the name Boenke come from?

The last name Boenke is quite common in many German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It can also be found throughout the United States, as many of these countries have historically sent immigrants to the US. While the origin of the name is not known with certainty, the Boenkes likely trace their ancestry to a common German ancestor.

In Germany, the name Boenke is especially common in the north-western region of the country, including Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Wurttemburg. It is also quite common in Bavaria and Hesse.

In Austria, the name Boenke is most commonly found in the Tyrol, Vienna, and Salzburg regions. In the US, the most recent estimates indicate that people named Boenke live in 23 of the 50 states. The greatest concentrations are in California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

It is not known how many people share the same last name, Boenke. What is certain though, is that Boenke is a strong surname that has made its way around the world, and can be traced back to German ancestors.

Variations of the surname Boenke

Boenke is a surname of Germanic origin, which is derived from the name "Bonik". Alternative spellings of Boenke include Bonke, Bohnke, Boenicker, Benke, Bonke, and Boonke. The southern German variant of Boenke is "Bohneke".

Surnames of the same origin as Boenke include Bonacker, Benkemeier, Benken, Bohnken, Bonkowsky, Boenker, Bonkowsky, and Benker. Other Germanic surnames related to Boenke include Bonk, Binkowski, Bonkewitz, Bennkoff, Bohnkow, Bohnk, Bonick, Bohn, Bohling, Bonhag, Bonhold, Bonne, Bonnig, Bohnhorst, and Bohnstedt.

Variations of the surname Boenke have spread across the globe and can be found in various cultures. In the United States, the surname Boenke may be found in Americanized forms such as Bunnke, Bonk, Bonkemeyer, Bonke, Bohnke, Benk, and Boonk. In the Netherlands, it can be found as Boonakker, Benket, Bonkjer, Bumke, Boonkuyp, Boonkelder, and Boonhanzee.

In Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway, Boenke may appear as Bonkevik, Bonnier, Bjonke, Boonkes, Benke, and Bønke. In German-speaking countries, the name may occur in the forms Böhnke, Beunke, Boenkert, and Bienke. It is also found in Poland, where variants of the original name include Bieniek, Bohonczyk, Bienek, Bienacki, Bonczyk, and Benke.

In South African countries, Boenke can appear in the forms Boonkea, Boonkee, and Boenker. It is also found in Russia, where variations of the name are Bonkeev, Bonkersh, Boonke, and Binyak. All of these surnames are derived from the same source, and may be used interchangeably.

Famous people with the name Boenke

• Dalton Boenke, American entertainment entrepreneur, producer, and composer.
• Lanny Boenke, German footballer and manager.
• Johannes Boenke, German geographer and historian.
• Peter Boenke, World War II flying ace with 13 victories.
• Daniel Boenke, American professional wrestler.
• Mike Boenke, Brazilian football manager.
• Richard Boenke, American political advisor and business executive.
• Michael Boenke, Canadian author and editor.
• Carsten Boenke, German artist and photographer.
• Aleksandar Boenke, Bosnian asparagus producer and horticulturist.
• Harry Boenke, British production mixer and recording engineer.
• Stephan Boenke, Canadian choreographer and television presenter.
• Paul Boenke, Canadian politician and civil servant.
• Marni Boenke, Australian ice hockey goaltender.
• Jan Boenke, Dutch politician.
• Lena Boenke, German Olympic rower.
• Helen Boenke, American Olympic diver.
• Stephen Boenke, American professional poker player.
• Martina Boenke, German Olympic gymnast.
• Adam Boenke, American sports lobbyist.

Other surnames

Boenkendorf