Surname Ehrike - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Ehrike: What does the surname Ehrike mean?
The German last name Ehrike is a name derived from a person's occupation. It is thought to have originated from the Dutch and German words 'heer' and 'rik', which translate to mean 'lord' and 'rich' respectively. This suggests that the original bearer of the name was a wealthy landowner or noble.
The first recorded use of the Ehrike name in Germany is recorded as being from 1513 and was first used on its own as a personal name. Today, it is most commonly found in Northern Germany, largely in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg.
The meaning of the last name is likely to have changed over time meaning it could also refer to people who owned horses or were active in horse trading. This career was common at the time when the surname first appeared - and is possible that the name has been used to refer to this job as means of distinction.
Based on this meaning, the last name Ehrike today is likely to refer to somebody who is financially successful, trustworthy, and reliable. This could be someone skilled in horse trading or any other business venture. Alternatively, the last name could be used to distinguish a noble family, or somebody of noble character.
Order DNA origin analysisEhrike: Where does the name Ehrike come from?
The last name Ehrike is primarily common in western Europe, particularly Germany, although it can be found all over the world due to global migration. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle German word “ehrike”, which can be translated to mean “honor” or “honorary”. It was likely first used to designate a person of high honor in the feudal class system.
The name spread throughout Germany and eventually across Europe, and today, the Ehrike name can be found predominantly in young and well-established German families, as well as surnames in other countries derived from Germans who moved to their respective countries centuries ago.
In the United States, the name is spread in various states, and according to an online database, the Ehrike surname was listed in the top 1,000 most popular names in the US in the 1900s. The largest concentration of names can be found in the Midwestern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, which also have large numbers of German immigrants.
The name Ehrike is also common in other German communities around the world; in Canada, it’s among the most popular German surnames found in cities with high German immigration, such as Toronto and Vancouver.
In South America, the name has been adopted by many Brazilian families, who were likely of German descent. Additionally, the name can also be found in the Middle East, particularly in countries such as Iran, Jordan, and Syria.
Overall, the last name Ehrike is most common in European countries with a strong history of German emigration but can be found in other countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Ehrike
Ehrike is a German surname with a variety of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling of the Ehrike surname is Ehrich. This spelling was used by many families in Germany’s Rheinland-Pfalz area of Rhineland-Palatinate. Other variations have been seen as Ehrick, Ehrickes, Ehricks, Ehrics, Ehrickes, Hehrich, Hehrig, hErick, Heerig, Heerics, Heerig, and Herig.
Other, lesser-seen spellings of the Ehrike surname are Airich, Eerich, Erichs, Erricks, hErich, Heerich, Heerike, Heihrichs, Heihrigh, Henrichs, Heyricke, Heyrike, Heyrix, Heriche, Herikes, Herix and Heyricke.
Variations of the Ehrike surname that spread to other countries have shown up as Ericks, Erricks, Heireckes, Héry, Herico, Herrig, Herrick, Herrik, and Herrx.
The Swedish variant of the Ehrike surname is Ehrke. Other Swedish variants include Erk, Ehrk, Ehrck, Erix, Eriks, Ericson and Ericsonius.
Finally, the Dutch variation of this surname is Eerke or Ehrike, while the Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian forms of this name are usually Ericksen or Erichsen.
Famous people with the name Ehrike
- Karl Ehrike: A German cinematographer who lived from 1950-1989 and was awarded a Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988.
- Christine Ehrike: An Austrian-born film producer working in the German film industry.
- Thomas Ehrike: An Austrian Austrian-Swiss composer and record producer.
- Gordon Ehrike: A German-American actor and director who has appeared in numerous films, television films, and theatre productions.
- Marianne Ehrike: An Austrian film director who directed the films Paradise Now (1989) and Violently Happy (1994).
- Ernst Ehrike: An Austrian actor who has appeared in more than 30 films and television shows.
- Manfred Ehrike: An Austrian actor and dubbing artist who has lent his voice to many German television and radio productions.
- Gerhard Ehrike: A German cinematographer who has worked on a variety of television productions since the 1980s.
- Herbert Ehrike: An Austrian actor and singer who appeared in a number of Austrian films and television plays.
- Claudia Ehrike: A German film and television producer active since the late 1970s.