Surname Hankemeier - Meaning and Origin

Hankemeier: What does the surname Hankemeier mean?

The surname Hankemeier is an occupational surname from the German language meaning “baker” or “miller”. The name is derived from the middle-low German words “hanke” and “meier“, which mean “baker” and “lord” respectively. The name has been used to describe those who worked in milling, baking, or brewing since the 12th century. The surname is most commonly found in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and parts of the Netherlands.

The Hankemeier’s were mostly farmers and artisans from the Low Countries and would have toiled with their hands in the villages and the Gleistal (glove valley) located in the Rhineland-Palatinate area of Germany. They had a strong connection to the local Catholic Church and were amongst the earliest landowners in the area.

Today, the Hankemeier surname is still mainly seen in its original homeland - the Western part of Europe. The name is also present in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, thanks to the influx of European settlers.

In modern times, the Hankemeier family has acquired prominence due to its role in the development of milling technology in Europe. A prominent Hankemeier from the 19th century, Johann Hankemeier, is well-known for his work in developing the machinery used to mill flour.

The surname Hankemeier is a reminder of the family's long history in milling, baking, and brewing. It speaks to its origins in a period of European social and cultural unrest, as well as its successful contribution to the science of milling and baking, in the modern world.

Hankemeier: Where does the name Hankemeier come from?

The last name Hankemeier is most commonly found in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Northern France. It is a Germanic name that means “householder” or “farmer” and is derived from the Middle High German words hankemeïer. It is believed to have been first used in the 13th Century.

In Germany, Hankemeier is most commonly found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt, as well as in the cities and towns of Essen, Paderborn, Bielefeld, Wuppertal, Dusseldorf, and Dortmund.

In Denmark, Hankemeier is most commonly found in the provinces of West Jutland and South Jutland. It is believed to have been first used in the 16th Century to describe settlers who had come from Germany to the area.

In the Netherlands, Hankemeier is most commonly found in the provinces of Drenthe, Overijssel, and Friesland, as well as in the cities and towns of Zwolle, Dalfsen, Zutphen, and Hengelo.

In Northern France, Hankemeier is most commonly found in the regions of Alsace, Lorraine, Picardy, and Nord-Pas-de-Calais, as well as in the cities and towns of Lille, Arras, Amiens, Metz, Reims, and Strasbourg.

The last name Hankemeier is still common today in these regions, and it is believed to be used by thousands of people all over the world.

Variations of the surname Hankemeier

The surname Hankemeier is a patronymic surname of German origin that was often adapted and changed as families migrated across Europe.

As with many surnames, there are various variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, as Hankemeier has been commonly altered and corrupted over time.

The most common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Hankemeier include:

• Hankenmair: A variant spelling of the German surname Hankemeier that is derived from a form of the personal name Hans.

• Hankemair: Another variant spelling of the German surname Hankemeier that is derived from a form of Hans.

• Hankamair: A third variant spelling of the German surname Hankemeier derived from a form of Hans.

• Hansemeier: A spelling variant of the German surname Hankemeier that is derived from a form of Hansen.

• Henkemeier: An alternate spelling of the German surname Hankemeier.

• Hohnkemeier: Another alternate spelling of the German surname Hankemeier.

• Bankenmayer: A corrupted spelling of the German surname Hankemeier that is derived from a form of Glockenmayer, which is an occupational name.

• Hickmeier: A German surname derived from a pet form of Henkemeier.

• Henkemayer: A German surname derived from a form of Henkemeier.

• Hanckemayer: An alternate spelling of the German surname Hankemeier.

Overall, the surname Hankemeier has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which range from Hankenmair, Hankemair, Hankamair, Hansemeier, Henkemeier, Hohnkemeier, Bankenmayer, Hickmeier, Henkemayer, and Hanckemayer.

Famous people with the name Hankemeier

• Mike Hankemeier: Mike is a former professional footballer who represented Germany in the 2002 World Cup and was the captain of Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2004–05 Bundesliga.
• Bryan Hankemeier: Bryan was the founder and CEO of the sports data company, TeamRankings.com.
• Ingrid Hankemeier-Martin: Ingrid is an accomplished film producer, having produced multiple films including "Von Licht" and "Homebound".
• Maik Hankemeier: Maik is the founder and CEO of content marketing agency, Content Publicity.
• Johanna Hankemeier: Johanna is an award-winning German actress who has starred in several films and TV shows, including "Der Turm" and "Der Bergdoktor".
• Andreas Hankemeier: Andreas is a former professional cyclist who competed in multiple races in Switzerland and Germany.
• Ruth Hankemeier: Ruth is an award-winning German painter, whose work has been featured in galleries all over the world.
• Jens Hankemeier: Jens is a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Düsseldorfer EG in the German Ice Hockey League.
• Dirk Hankemeier: Dirk is an award-winning German composer who has written multiple scores for feature films, TV shows, and games.

Other surnames

Hankemeyer