Surname Encke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Encke: What does the surname Encke mean?
The last name Encke is of German origin and is believed to have started out as a nickname of “Einke”—a short form of Heinrich. It can also be derived from the Old German word “enke” meaning “edge” or “border”. Thus, the surname was likely originally given to individuals who were from a border region, or to people who lived near a border.
The last name Encke first appears in written records in the thirteenth century, when a man named Konrad Enke was recorded in the town of Darmstadt in 1274. Throughout the years, the surname has seen an increase in popularity, largely due to its rather simple spelling.
Over time, the surname Encke has adopted several different spelling variations, depending on the country where it is found. Some common variations include Encke, Enke, Encks, Encks, Enc, and Enck.
Today, the surname Encke can be found in many parts of the world, particularly in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Notables with this surname include astronomer Johann Franz Encke, German revolutionary Albert Encke, and actor Johann Franz Encke-Karst.
Order DNA origin analysisEncke: Where does the name Encke come from?
The last name Encke is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a German surname that originated in the Middle Ages. It is of two distinct yet related origins, both from Old German names. The first is from the first name Ecke, meaning "sharp edge" or "corner," and the second is from the male name Enke, meaning "brave" or "heroic."
In modern times, the last name Encke is mainly found in the German states of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. There are also smaller yet sizeable populations of people with this name living in Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway.
In addition to Germany, this name is also quite popular in countries where there has been German immigration, including the United States, Canada, and South America. It is estimated that around 1 in 3,000 people in the US have the surname Encke.
The Encke family name spans multiple centuries and continues to this day. It is a name with strong Germanic roots, associated with courage, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity. These qualities have been passed down from generation to generation and remain an integral part of the current Encke family.
Variations of the surname Encke
The surname Encke is a German-origin surname derived from the word "Anke," meaning "ancestor." Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the name include Enke, Anke, Enckemann, Ancken, Anken, Anckenmann, Encken, Enckemmann, Enken, Enckenmann, and Enckmann.
The surname Encke is also found in many other European countries. For example, in Norway, the spelling is Ånke and can be traced back to the common Germanic ancestral name "Anke." In Austria, the surname is spelled Anken and Ancken as well. In Hungary, the surname is "Ancke," while in Czech and Slovak, the spelling is "Anka."
In the Netherlands, the surname is spelled Anken, and in Sweden, it is again spelled Ånke. Similarly, in Finland, the surname is spelled Ankinen, and in Denmark, it is spelled Ånke or Ånken.
In the United States, the surname Encke is relatively rare, though variants such as Ankeny, Ankenbauer, Enck and Anke are more common.
Moreover, the Encke surname is species to a well-known comet and the astronomer Johann Franz Encke who was born in Hamburg in 1791. His work is experienced in meteorology and searching for comets in the sky.
Famous people with the name Encke
- J. Encke: Johann Franz Encke, commonly known as Johann Franz Encke or simply Johann Encke, was a German astronomer.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Encke: Friedrich Wilhelm Encke was a German mathematician and astronomer. He is known for computing the period of a comet now named after him, Encke's Comet.
- Johann Friedrich Encke: Johann Friedrich Encke was an astronomer and director of the Berlin Observatory. He was responsible for discovering several comets, including Encke's Comet and Comet Encke-2.
- Ludwig Encke: Ludwig Encke was a German lawyer and member of the Imperial Russian diplomatic service.
- Charles Encke: Charles Encke was a Bavarian statesman and diplomat. He served in the Bavarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked to secure Bavarian political autonomy.
- Johannes Encke: Johannes Encke was a German painter, sculptor, and engraver.
- Ernst Encke: Ernst Encke was an Austrian-born German architect, who designed many prominent buildings in Germany and Austria, including the Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, Germany.
- Wilhelm Encke: Wilhelm Encke was a German lawyer and statesman. He served as the mayor of Cologne, Germany, from 1905 to 1914.
- Heinrich Encke: Heinrich Encke was a German playwright, theatre director, and actor. He was a co-founder of the Deutsches Theater in Berlin.
- Albert Encke: Albert Encke was a German historian and publisher. He specialized in the history of the Holy Roman Empire and authored several books on the subject.