Surname Mühlke - Meaning and Origin
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Mühlke: What does the surname Mühlke mean?
The last name Mühlke is of German origin. It comes from the old German word for mill, which was "mühle". Thus, Mühlke is a toponymic or descriptive surname. People with this name likely had ancestors who worked, owned or lived near a mill.
The original spelling may have varied from Mühlke to Mühlke. The prefix "Mühl-" was often changed to the more modernized spelling of "Möhl-" or "Muhl-" or "Muehl-" so the spelling of the name can fluctuate.
In modern times, those with the Mühlke surname might have some form of ties to industry, manufacturing or business. This name is particularly commonplace in East Germany and parts of Poland, and may have been passed down from generations of immigrants from those areas.
The Mühlke surname has become particularly popular in German-American communities. Those with this name may have ancestors who immigrated from Germany in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.
Mühlke is a pleasant-sounding surname that likely has a proud and storied heritage. Though its history and heritage may have been lost to the mists of time, many families who bear this last name look back fondly and proudly on their ancestors who first took this surname so long ago.
Order DNA origin analysisMühlke: Where does the name Mühlke come from?
The last name Mühlke (or Muhlke) is a German-based surname that originated as a patronymic, derived from a given name "Muhl", which is a pet form of the German name "Muhle". Today, the name Mühlke is common in many European countries that were formerly under German control. Mühlke is one of the most common surnames in Germany, where it is particularly prevalent in the northern states, such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The name is also common in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Czech Republic, Hungary, and Lithuania. In addition, the surname Mühlke is sometimes found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil, though it is much less common in these countries than in Europe. Generally, the name is associated with German-speaking communities and has not spread very far beyond the realm of German influence.
Variations of the surname Mühlke
The surname Mühlke is a German surname with several variants, spellings and derivations. The most common variations of the surname are Mulke, Mühlke-Lutter, Muellerke, Messerle, and Muellerke-Lutter. Other less common variations include Muhleke, Muelke, Mueller, Mühl, Mühlberger, Mühlenberg, Mahlke, Mohlke, and Mühlkamp.
The exact origin of the surname Muhlke is unclear. It's thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "Mühle," which means mill or grinder. It could refer to someone who worked in a mill, or it could indicate that a family originally lived near a mill. It's also possible that the surname is derived from the word "mühlen," which means to labor or to work hard.
The primary root surname is Mühlke, which has been established in Northern Germany since at least the 15th century. The variations of the surname, such as Mulke, Muellerke, and Messerle, are found mainly in the modern-day German states of Saxony and Brandenburg. German emigrants took the surname to other countries, including America, Canada, and New Zealand.
In America, the surname Mühlke and its variants are found primarily in areas with German populations, such as Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and Illinois. They can also be found in other states such as California, Florida, New York, and Ohio. According to US records, the number of people with the surname Mühlke in the United States was 238 in 1880, rising to 4,443 in 1920.
In some cases, the name has been anglicised to Miller, Mihlke, and Millerke.
Overall, the surname Mühlke is a German surname with several variants and spellings. It is thought to originate from the Middle High German word "mühle," which means mill or grinder. It has been established in Northern Germany since at least the 15th century, but since then has been carried to America, Canada, and New Zealand by German emigrants. Its variants, such as Mulke, Muellerke, and Messerle, are found mainly in Saxony and Brandenburg, although the name has also been anglicised to Miller, Mihlke, and Millerke.
Famous people with the name Mühlke
- Hofmann von Hofmannswaldau, Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Karl Ludwig Mühlke (1897-1966), German-Spanish entomologist and agricultural scientist.
- Wilfried Mühlke (born 1947), German footballer.
- Magdalena Mühlke (born 1960), German actress and co-founder of a Berlin theater company.
- Karoline Mühlke-Jakobi (1873-1936), German poet and novelist.
- Heinz Mühlke (born 1931), German literary historian.
- Jelka Gottschalk-Mühlke (born 1957), German neurologist and Alzheimer's researcher.
- Michael Mühlke (born 1955), German lawyer and judge.
- Robert Mühlke (born 1939), German zoologist and conservationist.
- Jürgen F. Mühlke (1931-1990), German geographer.
- Lilli Mühlke (born 1966), German painter and sculptor.