Surname Hartke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hartke: What does the surname Hartke mean?
The surname Hartke is of German origin. It derived from the Old German personal name "Hartwig", which is composed of the elements "hart" (meaning hard, strong) and "wig" (meaning battle, war). Therefore, Hartke might suggest the characteristics of a strong warrior. It is a patronymic surname, originally given to the son of a person named Hartwig. Like many German surnames, it became hereditary only around the 16th century, prior to which it was used simply to denote lineage. This surname is most prevalent in the United States and highest density in South Dakota. However, it is originally from the northern regions of Germany. Please note that surnames often have multiple origins and the meaning and history can vary based on the lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisHartke: Where does the name Hartke come from?
The surname Hartke is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "hart" which translates to "hardy" or "brave". It's likely this name was initially given as a nickname to individuals who were known for their strength or bravery. The suffix 'ke' is a diminutive, so Hartke could mean ‘little hardy one’ or ‘son of the hardy one’.
Today, the Hartke surname is not particularly common. However, it can be found in scattered populations around the world due to migration. It is most frequently seen in the United States, especially in regions with a high concentration of people of German descent, like the Midwest. You can also find the surname in Germany, the country of its origin. However, considering the vast diaspora of German immigrants around the world, the name can be found in several other countries as well. Despite this, it is considered an uncommon surname globally.
Variations of the surname Hartke
The surname Hartke has German origins and likely derives from the word "hart" which means "strong" or "hardy" in German. In addition to Hartke, alternate spellings and variations could include Hartke, Harttke, Haartke or Hartka. Other related surnames might be Hart, Hartmann, Hartwig, or Hertel, which also derive from the word "hart" in German.
Additionally, the surname can be found in different forms due to regional dialects, misspellings, and variations in translation. For example, the name could be spelled as Hearke, Heartke, Hartk, etc.
Moreover, as people migrated from one country to another, their names can change. As a result, it's also possible that there are variants of the name which have been anglicized or otherwise adapted for other languages such as Harte or Hark.
In some cases, surnames can also include prefixes or suffixes. For example, Rothhartke, Hartken, or Hartkel are possible variations as well.
Therefore, tracing the origin of a specific surname can sometimes be difficult because of the various spelling variants and alterations that may have occurred over the years.
Famous people with the name Hartke
- Vance Hartke: He was a U.S. Democratic Senator from Indiana and served three terms from 1959 to 1977. Before his Senate career, Hartke was also the mayor of Evansville, Indiana.
- Victoria Hartke: She is an up-and-coming actress known for her roles in "Belongingness" (2019) and "Club Life" (2015).
- David Hartke: A significant figure in the physics community, Hartke is known for his work as a computational chemist. He is a professor at the University of Kaiserslautern.
- Seymour Hartke: A notable accountant from New York, Hartke was a partner in the international accounting firm KPMG.
- Richard Hartke: Known for his work in mathematics and statistics, Richard Hartke is a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.