Surname Hankes - Meaning and Origin
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Hankes: What does the surname Hankes mean?
The last name Hankes is of German origin. It is derived from a personal name, "Hank," which is a diminutive form of Johannes, a German form of John. It has also been shown to originate from "Heinicke," which relates to the Old High German personal name "Heimo," meaning "home ruler."
The meaning of the name can be interpreted as one who "rules the home," which can refer both to someone in a leadership role in the home, who was strong and decisive, and one who was responsible for the well-being and security of their family.
The surname Hankes appears in numerous records from Germany throughout the eighteenth century. It is notable to note that many family lines were established long before the adoption of hereditary surnames in Germany throughout the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, initially by the ruling classes and then by the general populace.
Today, the surname Hankes is rare, appearing in its highest concentrations in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It is believed that this surname is most likely held by descendants of families who left Germany during the mid-eighteenth century as part of the emigration which took place during this period.
Hankes is a name that comes from a long history and is now associated with competent leaders and stability. A family bearing this surname should be proud of their heritage as they have gained a remarkable legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisHankes: Where does the name Hankes come from?
The surname Hankes is predominantly found in Germany today. It is most widely scattered through the northern states, such as Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Lower Saxony.
The family name seems to have Ukrainian, Russian, and Lithuanian origins, all indicating one original, common family Dispersion occurred during the 1860s to 1890s, mostly to countries such as Germany and the United States.
In Germany, records concerning the name Hankes are located mainly in and around the North and Danish-Polish border areas. During the Middle Ages, these border regions changed between German, Polish, and various other Empires. The many wars, border disputes, and relocations led to the displacement and diffusion of the Hankes surname in Northern Germany.
In the United States, the name Hankes is most densely found in Pennsylvania, followed by Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, California, Michigan, Texas, and Ohio. Here, the name Hankes is particularly prominent in the large German-American population, especially in the states of Pennsylvania and New York.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the surname Hankes is estimated to be held by approximately 4,000 individuals world-wide - with the majority of them being found in Germany and the United States.
Variations of the surname Hankes
The surname Hankes is a German topographic surname from central and eastern Germany. It is derived from the old German word hanke, which means “ridge” or “hill.”
Variants of the surname Hankes include Hanke, Hanck, Hanckes, Hancke, Hancken, Hanckmann and Hankemann. The double “r” spelling variants, Hanker and Hankers, can also be found.
Hankes can sometimes be found in the export-import trade with spelling variations such as Hankis, Hanxis and Hanxys. These variations come about due to incorrect recording of the name to match the local language and culture.
The German spelling of Hankes and its variants can also be found in other countries such as Sweden, Netherlands, and the USA, where it is anglicized to Hanks.
Other forms of Hankes used as surname include Hanek, Haneki, Haneky, Hankey, Haneke, Hanes, Hanisch, Hanks, and Hanz.
There are also several spelling variations for those carrying the same surname, such as Hankès, Hänkes, Hänkes and Hänks.
Furthermore, some people altered the spelling of their name because in some German dialects, phonetic changes became pronounced; thus becoming a new variation in the family. For example, the name may have been changed to Hanke but used the spelling Hanck or even Hankemann when immigrating or joining the military.
At times, the extension "meyer" or "meier" were added to the surname Hankes for those living near a meadow and took on the name to signify where they lived.
In conclusion, the Hankes surname has many variants and spelling variations with many possible ways the name may have been altered. Each spelling variation is unique and may have a different origin or story.
Famous people with the name Hankes
- Kasey Hankes: a professional football wide receiver
- Tyson Hankes: a professional basketball player
- Chastity Hankes: a former television celebrity as a top contestant in a singing competition
- Graham Hankes: a Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter
- David Hankes: a renowned American conductor, composer and pianist
- Thomas Hankes: an Emmy Award-winning film producer
- Margaret Hankes: a best-selling author
- John Hankes: a gold medalist Olympic skier
- James Hankes: a two-time Academy Award-winning director
- Sharon Hankes: a reality tv star and fashion designer
- Sarah Hankes: a popular YouTuber and makeup artist
- Robert Hankes: a former NBA player
- Alexander Hankes: a celebrated artist
- Andrew Hankes: a renowned actor and music producer