Surname Depcke - Meaning and Origin
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Depcke: What does the surname Depcke mean?
The last name Depcke is of German origin, and is derived from the German word 'Depke', meaning 'deep valley'. It is likely a topographical name given to those who lived in or near a deep valley. It was likely first used as a surname in the 13th century, and is thought to be derived from the Middle Low German word 'depke'.
Depcke is one of many German surnames with derivations from physical locations. Those surnames were created in a time when many people were not recorded by name in official records, so names that identified a person’s physical location were often used to differentiate them from others that had the same first name.
The frequency of the Depcke surname is highest in Germany, where the name originated, and is still most commonly found there. The name is also present in Europe, the United States and Canada, although with far less frequency.
The Depcke family crest is a symbol that is used to denote ancestry or lineage within the family. It consists of a black shield with three gold bars, each topped with a gold crown. Below the shield are two gold swans. Swan’s are symbols of fidelity, and the three gold bars symbolize nobility and courage. This crest is likely a representation of the original Depcke family’s nobility in Medieval Germany.
The Depcke family name can be found worldwide, but echoes of nobility still remain in the German version of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisDepcke: Where does the name Depcke come from?
The last name Depcke is most common in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The surname is derived from the Middle High German word despecke meaning “one who speaks.” Depcke is a rarer last name when compared to other more common Germanic names, like the popular Müller and Schmidt surnames; however, it is still fairly widespread throughout Germany and surrounding countries.
Specifically, the highest concentrations of Depcke are in the states of Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg in Germany, according to the GeoNames geographical database. Although still quite sparse, the name does also appear in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and other European countries. Although most of the Depcke population is concentrated in Germany and the surrounding regions, it is now becoming even more widely scattered—appearing in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and some other parts of the world.
The last name Depcke is uncommon and spread out over a wide area, but it still persists in many parts of the German-speaking world today.
Variations of the surname Depcke
The surname Depcke is a German patronymic surname derived from the personal name Diepke, which originated from the Old Germanic name Theudpric.
The original spelling of this surname is Diepke (pronounced DEEP-keh). Variants of this surname include Deppke, Deppek, Deppecke, Deipke, Deipcke, Deipecke, Deppke, Depke, Depcke, Depeke, Depke and Depecke. Some variant spellings of this surname can also be seen as Dehppke, Dehppcke, Dehpeke, Dehpke, Dehpcke, Dehpecke and Dehpke.
Alternate surnames that are derived from this same root include Diepker, Diepmaker, Theppker, Deppker, Deppmaker, Deipker, Deipmaker, and Teupker. If the original name was 'Theudpric', then related surnames could be Tehupker, Tehuppker and Tehuppmaker.
Additionally, double-barreled names may combine Depcke with other surnames, such as Depcke-Celle, Depcke-Berlin, Depcke-Berlinon, Depcke-Leder, Depcke-von_Luebben, Depcke-Demmig, Depcke-Weiss, Depcke-Habich.
The origin of the surname Depcke is German, however it can sometimes be found in other countries, as descendants of the original family may have immigrated to other countries. It is important to note that the spelling may change in different countries as it gets adapted to the local language. For instance, Diepke and Depecke are quite common variants to be encountered with Polish, Russian or Ukrainian roots.
Famous people with the name Depcke
- Michael Depcke, German footballer, 1980s forward for SC Freiburg, VfL Bochum & Borussia Dortmund
- Oscar Depcke, Australian rules footballer, Circlewood Football Club player 1880s
- Ken Depcke, American basketball coach, head coach for 1969 Alabama Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament team
- Thom Depcke, American baseball player, played with Chicago Cubs 1957-1959
- Esteban Depcke, Argentine professional basketball player, 1923 Olympic basketball champion
- Tim Depcke, German swimmer, 1992 Summer Olympics bronze medallist
- Damien Depcke, French race car driver, competed in 2010 Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup
- Melinda Depcke, German footballer, played with Bayern Munich in 2010-2011 season
- Chuck Depcke, American basketball coach, head coach of Poland’s National Basketball Team 1993-1998
- Chris Depcke, American banker, former vice president for Goldman Sachs