Surname Plank - Meaning and Origin
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Pioneering Roots and Vibrant Bloodlines: Tracing the Plank Ancestry Through DNA
Identifying one's origin is a profound exercise of self-discovery that illuminates our place in the human genealogy chain. The author undergoes a DNA test and discovers shocks and surprises in their ancestry, reshaping their understanding of themselves.
A. Plank
read morePlank: What does the surname Plank mean?
The last name Plank is a toponymic surname which refers to a person who comes from an area called Plank or some other place where planks of wood were made or used. This name likely originated from Germany or Austria as a habitational surname. It is speculated that it may be derived from an old German word "planca" which means an outcrop or small hill.
The name Plank is found throughout Central and Eastern Europe in countries such as Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungary. It is most common in Germany, where it accounts for about 0.2 percent of the population.
The Plank family name dates back to at least the 18th century and it was the most common spelling in Austria. It is likely that the family originated from the area now known as Lower Austria, where the Planks first settled.
Today, the Plank surname is a proud reminder of a long and distinguished family history. The Plank family continues to be prominent in their respective countries. Many members of the Plank family have achieved success in various fields such as arts, sciences and politics.
The Plank family continues to honor their roots and strives to achieve greatness. The Plank name will live on for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisPlank: Where does the name Plank come from?
The last name Plank is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with Germany being the nation of origin. Plank is a common German surname, derived from the Middle High German "planch" meaning "flat piece of wood" or "plank". This was likely a nickname for someone who worked with wood in some way, such as a carpenter or woodworker.
Plank is also thought to be connected to the improved German “Plancke” meaning "low, flat-lying area of land". It was likely a nickname for someone from such an area who was identified by other people with the phrase. The circumstances of the surname's origin still remain unclear and debatable even today.
The current distribution of Plank suggests that the ancestral home was probably located in central or northern Germany, where the Plank surname can still be found in highest numbers. In the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the Plank surname is still historically quite common. Beyond these countries, Plank can also be found in other pockets of Europe such as Portugal, Spain, France, and Estonia.
In the United States specifically, Plank is a fairly common surname thanks to the many German immigrants who settled in the US in the 1700s and 1800s. Additionally, Plank is much more frequently encountered in states that experienced a higher influx of German immigration such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Plank
The surname Plank is derived from the German word "plank", which means a board or timber. It is believed to have been taken on by families who worked in the timber-related professions in the early medieval period. Variants of the Plank surname include Plancke, Planck, Planckes, Planker, Plancker, Plankes, Plancks, Planckers, Plankers, Plankert, Plunk, Plonk, Plunket, Plonker, and Plonck. Spellings of the surname can also vary, such as "Plancke" or "Planckes".
The surname Plank is also found among immigrants in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where variations such as Planker and Plonker have become more common.
In the Netherlands, the surname Plank can be found, but most often the spelling is Planck or Plonk. There is also the surname Plonck in the Netherlands, which is more common in the northern provinces.
In Poland, Plank is most often found as Plonka or Plonk, while in France the spelling is usually Planck or Planque.
In Scotland, the spelling is often Planker, and in Ireland, the name is very rare but can be found as Plunket or Plunketts.
In Britain, variations such as Planker and Plinkett have been documented, and other variations can be found in countries across the world.
Famous people with the name Plank
- Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO of Under Armour
- Robert Plank, American Production Mixer and Sound Re-recording Mixer
- Chris Plank, American talk show host
- Thomas E. Plank, American Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
- William Joseph Plank, American Teacher
- Christian Plank, Austrian Ski-Jumper
- Don Plank, American tennis player
- Elonka Dunin, Former Gamasutra Columnist
- Klaus Plank, German-American mathematician
- Sidney Plank, American baseball player
- Stan Plank, American television producer
- Parkes Plank, Australian-born, Canadian aeronautical engineer
- Ivanka Plank, former lead singer, songwriter, keyboardist of the Icelandic music group, Bang Gang
- Steven Plank, American actor
- Ben Plank, British sailing enthusiast
- Maureen Plank, American-born British Principal of National Film and Television School
- Emily Plank, British fashion designer
- Kenny Plank, American former professional ice hockey forward
- Mike Plank, American-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Donnie Plank, American former professional football player (Linebacker)
- Vivienne Plank, British artist's son
- Stuart Plank, American singer-songwriter
- Kyle Plank, American former professional baseball player (Pitcher)
- Travis Plank, American former professional basketball player (Point guard)
- Christian Plank, American former professional CrossFit athlete
- August Plank, American politician
- Jeff Plank, American former professional rugby union player
- Jan Plank, German former aerobatic pilot
- Jimmy Plank, Australian former professional rugby league footballer
- Ingrid Plank, German Olympic rower