Surname Merkx - Meaning and Origin
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Merkx: What does the surname Merkx mean?
The last name Merkx is of Dutch origin. The name is derived from the German word "mark," which means "border." It is believed that the surname was borne by an ancestor from near a place of some importance in the tribal division of the county.
Merkx is an occupational name for a person working with or near a border crossing. It may have referred to someone who was in charge of a boundary or marker, such as a boundary marker between two provinces. It is also possible that the name indicated that the bearer was a farmer who lived near a marked or distinct border between two countries or provinces.
The name Merkx has evolved over time and has been recorded in various forms throughout the centuries. For example, the name was recorded as Merckx in the 17th century and as Merke in the 18th.
Throughout the years, the name has been found in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, and the United States. Merkx is a very popular surname across Europe, with over 6,000 individuals bearing the name. Today, the name is still seen throughout Europe as well as in North America.
Order DNA origin analysisMerkx: Where does the name Merkx come from?
The last name Merkx is most common today in Belgium, specifically in the region of Flanders, where it originated. The name is of Belgian-Flemish origin, likely derived from the Germanic personal name Marko.
In Belgium, Merkx is the 62nd most common surname, and is most prevalent in the Province of Antwerp, making up 0.055% of the population there. This province is located in the northern portion of Belgium and borders the Netherlands to the north and Germany to the east. There are also large numbers of Merkx families living in other nearby regions of Flanders such as the Provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant, and East and West Flanders.
The last name Merkx also has a presence outside of Belgium, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Austria. There are smaller numbers of Merkx families living in Canada, the United States, Spain, Sweden, and even Australia and New Zealand. These families likely originated from Belgium or other nearby countries with Belgian-Flemish populations.
Today, the last name Merkx is found spread across the world, but still has the highest concentration in its country of origin in Flanders, Belgium.
Variations of the surname Merkx
The Merkx surname has a variety of different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common spelling variations include: Marcx, Merck, Mercx, Mercks, Merx, Mertx, Mearx, Meerkx, Meerx, and Markx.
Other variants include: Marck, Marcks, Merckle, Merckles, Mercles, Merckx, Merke, Merkholz, Merkle, Mertzes, Murtz, and Murtzes. These spellings have all been derived from the original Dutch and German versions of the surname Merkx/Mertz.
A variety of different regional surnames can also be found, such as Merxmann (Germany), Merxkotter (Holland) and Merxem (Belgium). Additionally, the form of the surname can change in different parts of Europe, with D’Merkx being used in parts of France, and Der Merkx found in parts of Switzerland.
In the United States, the Merkx surname can also be found in a number of variants, such as Merks, Merkx, Merleys, Murks, and Murksmith.
Overall, the Merkx surname has a diverse range of spellings and variants, many of which are region-specific and can be traced back to their Dutch/German origins.
Famous people with the name Merkx
- Eddy Merckx: A Belgian professional cyclist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. He won five Tour de France titles, five Giro d'Italia titles and a world championship.
- Paulus Merkx: A Dutch footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AZ, Excelsior, Feyenoord and FC Groningen during his career.
- Helga Merkx: A Dutch actress who has appeared in films and television series that include Sky High, Alles Mag, and WytzesBuitenland.
- Marcus Merkx: An English darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.
- Nico Merkx: A Dutch sailor who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, where she finished fifth and ninth respectively in the 470 Women’s event.
- Maurice Merkx: Former Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies who served as the last Dutch Governor-General from 1949 to 1950.
- Desirée Merkx: A Dutch athlete, who mainly competes in the hammer throw and is the national record holder in that event since 2018.
- Antonius Merkx: A Dutch road and track cyclist who won the Dutch National Road Race Championships in 1985.
- Peter Merkx: A Belgian graphic designer, architect, and artist who designed movie posters for The Matrix, The Green Mile, 8 Mile, and several other movies.
- Jan Merkx: A Dutch aerospace engineer and former executive of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.