Surname Focks - Meaning and Origin
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Focks: What does the surname Focks mean?
The last name Focks is of German origin, and it likely comes from the name “Voges,” a name derived from Europe’s ancient Germanic tribes. The original spelling of the name was “Fuchs,” which means fox in German. Over time, the name evolved to “Focks,” and it became a common surname in Germany and other European countries.
The surname Focks is borne by many families throughout Europe, but each family has its own unique story for how the name came to be. Some trace the origins of the name back to the middle ages, when some Focks families served as knights and warriors to noble rulers in East Prussia. Others claim their line of Focks dates back to 15th century Germany, when the family took on the name after purchasing an estate.
The surname Focks is associated with people who are hardworking, honest, and loyal. A branch of the Focks family living in America today is mostly found in Pennsylvania, where they originally settled in 1750.
Today, Focks families remain active in their communities, and many of them still live in the place of their ancestors’ highest accomplishments. The Focks name may be a reminder of the past, but the family still lives up to the traits of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisFocks: Where does the name Focks come from?
The surname Focks can be found all over the world today. In Germany, Focks is especially popular in the Schleswig-Holstein region. In the United States, Focks is more prevalent in the Northeast, but can be traced back to the German immigrants that made their way to the US in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
In France, the surname has also been well documented, mostly in the Lorraine region. It can also be found in the Alsace region. In more recent migrations, Focks can be found in the Caribbean, South and Central America, and across different parts of Europe.
In terms of ancestry, most people who have the last name Focks can trace their roots to a single area of Germany. It is believed that the first Focks family arrived in Germany from the Ardennes region of France in the 13th century, where the name comes from the German word 'Fockens'.
Today, the Focks surname is still commonly used, both in its original form and in variants such as Fooks, Focken, Fochs, and Fock. The number of Focks last names in Germany is estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000, though it could be much higher as there is no definitive record-keeping in the country.
Variations of the surname Focks
Focks is a surname of German origin, which is often spelled as Fochs, Focke, Foche, and Focke/Fokke. It is derived from the Middle High German word "voge", which means "bird". In German, the prefix "f" was added in front of the word to form the variant "fvoge". This often resulted in the surname Focks being adopted.
Focks is also spelled as Focks, Fox (English), Focht, Fochss, Fohs, Focksen, Fockes, Fockers, Fockens, and Fockerss. In addition to German, this surname is also found in the Netherlands and Norway.
In terms of surnames derived from the same root of Focks, Fock is the Dutch variant, Foch is the French, and Vogel is the German variant. Vogel is derived from the Dutch/Flemish word "vogel", meaning "bird". Focken is also a Dutch variant, as well as Fockx in Belgium and Fokken in Norway. Fokkens is also found in the Netherlands and Fokkema in Frisia.
In the United States, the Fock surname is prevalent due to the immigration of German, Dutch, and Norwegian settlers. It is mainly found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Miami. Additionally, it is often associated with the German name of Fuhrman, which often included "Focken", "Fockers", and "Fuhrmann" as variants.
Famous people with the name Focks
- Hein Fock: Dutch painting artist who became famous for his paintings of landscapes and cityscapes.
- Joost Fock: Dutch windsurfing champion who achieved gold medals in the Olympic Games in 2004 and 2012.
- Corinne Fock: Dutch all-around gymnast who represented Netherlands in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Peter Focks: Danish professor of zoology and cell biology at the University of Copenhagen.
- Jacob Focks: Dutch lawyer, politician and diplomat who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1978 and 1982.
- Han Fock: Dutch footballer who played for Gianis and represented Netherlands in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Harry Focks: Canadian illustrator and cartoonist who is known for his work in the Simpsons and Futurama.
- Willem Fock: Dutch Poet laureates who was awarded the prestigious Constantijn Huygens prize in 2012.
- Anne Focks: German author whose novel Anzunehmen: Eine stadtreise was nominated for the prestigious German Book Award in 2013.
- Hugo Focks: Dutch physician and professor who was awarded the Albert Schweitzer Prize in 2005 for his work in medical ethics.