Surname Ehrke - Meaning and Origin

Ehrke: What does the surname Ehrke mean?

The last name Ehrke is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German erchen which itself is derived from the Old High German erch, or arch, and is a variant of the name Erich.

The name is derived from a Germanic personal name from the root ‘erio’ meaning ‘eternal’ or ‘ever strong’. The name was linked to the Old Norse elements ‘rik’ meaning ‘king’ and ‘her’ meaning ‘army’, making the meaning of the name of the ‘ruler of the army’ or ‘ever strong ruler’.

Traditionally, the family name Ehrke indicated a descent from the same ancestor, or an association with the same ‘house’. It could also have been a sign of a person’s trade or profession, indicating a particular craft, such as tool or arm-making.

The Ehrke family may have been prominent in their local community, maintained a large estate, held public office or had ties to governing institutions. Names of oldest known generations of Ehrke family members show their history dates back to the 13th Century in the areas of Lüneborg and Hanover in Northern Germany.

Today, the name is still used throughout Europe, the United States and in parts of South America. While not a particularly common name, the name is still remembered and carried on.

Ehrke: Where does the name Ehrke come from?

The last name Ehrke is relatively uncommon today, but is most frequently found in German-speaking countries such as Germany and Austria. Records of German speaking countries show that the frequency of the name Ehrke is highest in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany, with few clusters of the name also in central and southern Germany. Records also show the name is common in neighbouring countries such as Denmark and Austria. Outside Germany, the last name Ehrke can be found in Australia, the United States and Canada. In the US, the highest number of individuals with the name Ehrke is located in the state of Arkansas.

In addition to this, historical records show that many individuals with the last name Ehrke migrated to countries such as the United States and Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries. As a result, the name has now spread throughout North America with significant numbers found in Michigan, New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The name is also widely dispersed throughout Australia, with individuals bearing the name settled across the nation, from the Northern Territory and Queensland to Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

In summary, although the last name Ehrke is not particularly common in any one particular area, it is relatively widespread across Germany, Denmark, Canada, the United States and Australia.

Variations of the surname Ehrke

The surname Ehrke has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Ehrike, Ehrkel, Ehrkelah, Ehrkelman, Ehrkenhoff, Ehrkewitz, Ehrkötter, Ehrlich, and Erke.

The spelling “Ehrke” is a German surname that means “brave” or “courageous” and is translated from the Middle High German word ehrkeit or ehre. It is thought to have originated in Germany, but variants spellings can be found in other locations such as France, Sweden, and Russia.

The variant spelling Ehrike is derived from the German surname Ehrich, which came from the Middle High German word ehr. It is usually found in Germany and is translated as meaning “honor” or “honorable”. The surname Ehrkel has been documented in both Germany and France, and likely comes from a short form of the given name Ehrenfried. Another variant spelling, Ehrkelah, comes from the Germanic name Erkelea, which means “strong in battle”.

Ehrkelman is another variant spelling derived from the German surname Ehrecke. It is thought to be derived from the Middle Low German Ehrecke, which means “spearman”. The surname Ehrkenhoff is likely from a different root, as it is derived from the German habitat name Ehrenhoff, meaning “honor hill”.

Ehrkewitz is derived from the Old High German name Ehrah, and is usually translated as “honesty” or “ admiration”. The variant spelling Ehrkötter comes from a German habitational name Ehrkötter from places in Westphalia. The variant spelling Ehrlich comes from the German word ehrlich, meaning “honest”. Lastly, the surname Erke is derived from the Latin name Marcus and is usually found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Famous people with the name Ehrke

• Richard Ehrke: German-Canadian modern pentathlete and Olympic athlete who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
• Jesse Ehrke: professional skier and two-time winner of the annual 24 Hours of Sunlight endurance ski race.
• Michael Ehrke: gynecologist, obstetrics and reproductive pioneer.
• Gert Ehrke: German rower who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
• Lars Ehrke: German football referee who officiated the 1990 FIFA World Cup final.
• Johan Ehrke: former Pan American Games champion skier.
• Stefan Ehrke: German footballer who represented Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Football League.
• Willie Ehrke: German footballer who represented Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
• Eva Ehrke: German ice hockey player for the German National Women's Hockey team.
• Harald Ehrke: German football coach and former manager of SSV Jahn Regensburg.

Other surnames

Ehrk