Surname Brotke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Brotke: What does the surname Brotke mean?
The last name Brotke is of German origin and is derived from the word "brot" which means bread. The name could also have been derived from the word "brote" which means bread slabs. It could refer to someone who worked in bread production or the owner of a bakery.
The exact origin of the name is unknown but it has been associated with areas of Germany, such as Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover, and Saxony. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in Lower Saxony.
Throughout its history, it has been an uncommon surname. It could be bearers of the name may have been farmers, bakers, brewery workers, or even brewers. It could also be a nickname for someone who was particularly fond of bread.
Since the surname is so uncommon, there is not much else known about its history or origin. It is, however, the surname of many notable individuals, such as the composer and organist Johann Brotke and the 19th century German theologian Andreas Brotke.
Overall, the last name Brotke appears to have a straightforward origin. It is a rare surname with German roots and may have originally referred to a baker or simply someone who was fond of bread.
Order DNA origin analysisBrotke: Where does the name Brotke come from?
The last name Brotke is an old German name with a reach that extends beyond the confines of the old country. It is quite common today in North America, and especially the United States.
Families with the last name Brotke began immigrating to North America in the early 19th century, with a large influx coming in the years after World War II. And while many stayed in the more densely populated East Coast states, there has been a steady migration westward throughout the intervening years.
Today Brotke is notably concentrated in the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. There has also been a distinct growth in the Western region to states such as Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, and Wyoming. Outside the United States Brotke is much less common, with reported settlements in Canada, the UK, and primarily in Germany.
Interestingly, records indicate that while the last name is spread across the country, it is still heavily clustered in the Midwest, making it one of the most common surnames in those states. Furthermore, likely due to their German ancestral lineage, many Brotkes that live in North American are actively involved in regional Deutsch (German) cultural societies and/or events.
Overall, the last name Brotke remains quite common in the United States and Canada today, thanks in large part to the waves of German immigrants that came prior to World War II. The last name is most concentrated in the Midwest but can be found in various other states and countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Brotke
Brotke is a German surname. It is derived from the Low German word "brot" which means bread, and the word "ke" which is a suffix used to denote a place of origin or smallholder. According to Houseofnames.com, the earliest recorded form of the name is Brodeken, which appeared in 13th century records for the German province of Pomerania.
Spelling variations of Brotke include Brodke, Brodken, Brodeken, Brottke, Brotkie, Brödke, Bröttke and Brotke.
Variants of the name include Brottke, Brautke, Brautken, Brodtken, Breutken, Bröttken, Broddeken, Brodeken Brautka, Prodtke and Brödtke.
In addition, some families in Germany still bear the variation Brottke, as in the family of Dr. Georg Brottke, as well as the families of missionaries and authors from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The name is also found in many northern European countries, such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark, in the form of Brotts, Brotstes, Brotssons and Broamping.
Other surnames with the same origin include Brautigan, Bratt, Brott, Brottling and Bröttling, as well as Bratkiewicz, Bratkowski, Bratkowskiy and Bratskich.
Famous people with the name Brotke
- C. Gary Brotke: an American actor.
- Lindsey K. Brotke: an American animator and visual effects artist.
- Christopher Brotke: an American sound engineer.
- Reuben Brotke: an Australian sprint kayaker.
- Orlando Brotke: a German actor and singer.
- Marcus Brotke: a German footballer.
- Brad Brotke: a Canadian ice hockey player.
- Stan Brotke: an American stunt performer.
- Kia Brotke: an American actress.
- Henning Brotke: a German footballer.
- Jill Brotke: an American chef.
- Ron Brotke: an American screenwriter.
- Tony Brotke: an American artist.
- Diele Brotke: a Brazilian animator and director.
- Allen Brotke: an American football coach.
- Laurie Brotke: an American voice artist.
- Roger Brotke: an American producer.
- John Brotke: an American drummer.
- Jeff Brotke: a Canadian film editor and animator.
- Tyler Brotke: an American jazz musician.