Surname Öhmke - Meaning and Origin
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Öhmke: What does the surname Öhmke mean?
The last name Öhmke is a German surname that originated in the area around Berlin, Germany. It is believed to come from the name Öhme, which is derived from the old German word ‘uhma’ meaning ‘lordhood’. It may also be derived from the name Öhme, which is derived from a dialect term ‘umme’, meaning ‘swiftly’.
The Öhmke family is believed to have originated in the city of Hannover in the Hanover region of Germany. Some of the earliest record of the surname includes a Balthasar Ohmke who was listed as a maurer (a municipal construction worker) in the city of Hannover in 1603 and another Johann Balthasar Öhmke who was the mayor of the same city in 1701.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Öhmke family moved throughout Germany and parts of northern Europe, largely due to the numerous wars of this era. The surname is particularly common in the modern-day states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.
The traditional spelling of the surname is Ühmke or Öhmke, although a variety of other spellings have arisen over time, such as Ömke, Uhmke or Uemke. In the United States, many people with the surname spell it as Ohmke.
Regardless of how it is spelled, the last name Öhmke is thought to represent a long lineage of German families whose members have held positions of authority throughout history. It is our hope that the name endures throughout the generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisÖhmke: Where does the name Öhmke come from?
The last name Öhmke is most commonly found in Germany today. It derives from a given name, which typically comes from the name Ehmke. This is a patronymic name meaning “son of Ehmke”. Variations on the spelling of this surname include Ohmke, Ohmkeh, Ömke, and Ohmeke.
The name Öhmke is mostly found in the German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony-Anhalt. It is also present in lower frequencies in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and Berlin.
There are also some records of this name being found outside of Germany. In particular, there were a few families in South Africa and the United States who bear this surname, indicating that some bearers of the name Öhmke may have emigrated from Germany.
Overall, the last name Öhmke is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to have derived from a patronymic given name and variations of this surname are found throughout the country. It is also found in some records outside of Germany, likely as a result of emigration.
Variations of the surname Öhmke
The surname Öhmke is of German origin. It is derived from a Germanic given name, Ohm, which means 'honourable' or 'noble'.
Variant spellings of the surname Öhmke include Ohmke, Ömke, Ohmhold, Oemke, Oehmkke, Oemcke, Emke, Ohmke, Ohm, Ohemke, Ehmke, Ohmke-Janz, Oemack, and Ehmcken.
Surnames of the same origin include Ohme, Oehme, Oheme, Amme, Oemig, Oemisch, Amick, Aumack, Oemens, Aume, Emig, Hömeke, Himmelein, Oemecke, and Oem ver.
The prefix 'öh' or 'oeh' is typically associated with the Öhmke surname — in fact, the 'öh' and 'oeh' indicate a nobility of sorts. The 'm' is believed to be derived from a dialectal variant of the German word 'mann', which translates to mean 'man'. The concluding 'ke' is thought to have come from the German word 'koenig', meaning 'king'. Together, the meaning of the surname Öhmke can be interpreted as 'honourable man, royal'.
The surname is most common in Germany, though it is also found in other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Öhmke
- Elke Öhmke-Hahn: German physician and health researcher focusing on the behavior of people with chronic diseases.
- Berthold Öhmke: German Roman Catholic theologian and professor of dogmatics.
- Konrad Öhmke: German football player.
- Axel Öhmke: German slalom canoeist who competed in the early 2000s.
- Erich Öhmke: German footballer who played in multiple leagues, including both the German and Austrian Bundesliga.
- Jörg Öhmke: German television and radio presenter, director, and translator.
- Nicole Öhmke: German opera singer specializing in mezzo soprano roles.
- Gerd Öhmke: German non-fiction author, publicist, and journalist.
- Hermann Öhmke: German lawyer and professor of judiciary.
- Hans-Günter Öhmke: German composer and professor of music.