Surname Firks - Meaning and Origin

Firks: What does the surname Firks mean?

The last name Firks is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle High German ('Virck' or 'Verc') which is a nickname for someone of valiant and brave character. It can also be derived from the Middle Low German 'ferch' which is a personal name meaning 'little son'.

The surname Firks is found mainly in Germany, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is particularly common in Bavaria, where it was used as a surname in 18th century records.

The surname Firks can indicate a person who is valiant, courageous, or strong-willed. It can reflect a family lineage of bold or daring pioneers who were willing to take risks and bravely explore unknown lands.

Today, the surname Firks is still found in many countries around the world and is a reminder of the family’s legacy of strength and courage. Those who bear the last name may take pride in their ancestor’s accomplishments and strive to live up to the same level of bravery and fortitude.

Firks: Where does the name Firks come from?

The last name Firks is most commonly found in the United States today, however, there are also some instances of the name in other countries, such as in Germany. Firks is a relatively rare surname, making up only approximately 0.001% of all surnames in the United States.

In the United States, most Firks are found in the midwest states of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The largest known population resides in Minnesota, where there are an estimated 630 Firks living in the state.

The oldest known records of the Firks surname in the United States can be traced back to the 1800s, with the earliest recorded mention occurring in the 1840 U.S. Census, in which a Cornelius Firks is recorded in Wisconsin. In addition, the name is mentioned in records from 1860 in Iowa, and 1880 in Wisconsin.

It is believed that the Firks family originated in Germany, and likely first migrated to the United States during the 19th century, sometime between the 1840s and 1880s. It is also believed that the original family tree is related to the Fuhrkes family, which is German in origin.

Today, the Firks family is fairly small, however, the majority of them can be found in the Midwest of the United States. As the family continues to grow, more of them can be expected to appear around the world.

Variations of the surname Firks

Firks is a surname of German origin and there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. They include variants such as Fierce, Ferk, and Ferks, and spellings such as Feirk, Feirkz, Fercks, Ferick, Fitzpatrick, Fitzfergus, and Fitzsimmons. Some related surnames are Park, Parks, Parkes, Parkhouse, Firkus, Firkuson, and Firkusen. The variants indicate that the original form of the surname might have changed over time as pronunciations of the name have varied.

The surname Firks may have derived from a German given name, Firck, which is derived from the Old German word, "phirihta" meaning protection. It is also possible that the name emerged from the German verb "fürken" which means "to drive away." Early spellings of the surname Firks suggest that the name may have come from a personal name that has been incorporated into the family name, such as "Firck's son" which became Firk or Fitz.

The occurrence of names such as Fitzpatrick and Parkhouse are also possible variants of the surname Firks. It is speculated that way back, a person bearing the name Firks may have migrated to the British Isles and that the surname may have been Anglicized to Fitz. This may have resulted in names such as Fitzpatrick. Parkhouse could be a variation of a nickname "Parcks,” given to a resilient family member.

In conclusion, Firks is a Germanic surname with several variants and spellings, such as Fierce, Ferk, and Ferks, as well as surnames such as Park, Parks, Parkes, Parkhouse, Firkus, Firkuson, and Firkusen. It is speculated that the surname may have derived from a German given name, or the words “protection” and “to drive away”. It is also possible that the surname was Anglicized to Fitz or the nickname “Parcks” resulted in Parkhouse.

Famous people with the name Firks

• Quentin Firks, professional American football player for the Carolina Panthers.
• Alix Firks, actress and model best known for her starring role in the drama series 'Vuosaari'.
• Alex Firks, Grammy award-winning music producer and mix engineer.
• Royce Firks, international supermodel represented by Elite NYC and Women Direct.
• John Firks, Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers from 1948–1951.
• Jennifer Firks, world champion pole dancer and star of the Las Vegas show 'Diva Las Vegas'.
• Mark Firks, Emmy award-winning television and film producer and director.
• Eric Firks, American author and entrepreneur who heads the book publishing and media company 'Hooked On Books'.
• Brian Firks, NBA basketball player who currently plays for the Denver Nuggets.
• Emma Firks, Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball for the United States.

Other surnames

Firk