Surname Pulker - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pulker: What does the surname Pulker mean?
The last name Pulker is a toponymic name which means "one from Pulke," a location name referring to a settlement in western Latvia. The name probably originates from an old Baltic language in which “pulke” can mean “place of rest” or “mercy.” It is believed that the family of Pulkers may even have come to Latvia during the time of the Teutonic Knights, who settled in the area in the 13th century.
The Pulkers were likely given their farmlands by the Latvian ruler in the 12th or 13th century. They were allowed to provide goods to the ruler such as grain, horses, and cattle, in exchange for keeping the land in their possession. The lands surrounding them also had to be tilled and cultivated.
Interestingly, the Pulker name was popularized in Germany and the United States especially after World War I, when many people of Latvian heritage were living outside their native land. The name, while still popular today, is more commonly seen in Latvian communities.
In conclusion, the last name Pulker means “one from Pulke” and likely originated many centuries ago in Latvian. For a time, the name was fairly common in Germany and in the United States due to the migration of people of Latvian descent. Today it is still seen in Latvian communities.
Order DNA origin analysisPulker: Where does the name Pulker come from?
The last name Pulker is most commonly found today in Germany and other German-speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. It is believed that the Pulker name originated in the Middle Ages in Germany, and is most likely derived from the word “Pulker,” which means “he who pulks (or pushes)”. This is a reference to the strength or force used by a tradesman to move a heavy object.
In Germany today, the Pulker name is still quite common, with its highest concentrations in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt. Beyond Germany, Pulker families also have migrated to other countries in Europe, including the Netherlands, the UK, France, Belgium, and Poland. The Pulker name has also spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
For those with the Pulker name today, it is likely that their ancestors were skilled tradesmen who used their strength and expertise to push heavy objects. This quality of strength and determination is one that is still shared by many of the Pulker families of today.
Variations of the surname Pulker
The surname Pulker has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The original spelling was unpredictable and changed as people moved over the centuries, leading to several regional variants and spelling variations of the name, including Pulker, Pulczer, Puelcher, Puhlker, Puhler, Pohler, and Pohleker. Variations of the surname can also be seen in many cultures, including Polkar, Polker, and Pulak.
It is suspected that the surname derives from the Middle High German word “pulk” or “bulc” which meant “trunk” and referred to a type of chest, and the term was used in Central Europe to describe armored transportation wagons. It is believed that the original bearer of the name Pulker was a maker or merchant of transport trunks.
The Pulker surname is most commonly seen in countries under the Austerlitz monarchy, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Poland. The variant spellings of this family name are found mainly in the United States, Canada, and Germany. The name is also found in the United Kingdom, Austria and Hungary.
The Puhlker variation is likely an Americanized version of this name, since German immigrants often Anglicized their family names to make them easier to pronounce in the United States. It is also likely that the surname Pulker evolved differently around the world, as families moved to different regions, leading to unique variations of the same surname.
Overall, the surname Pulker is common among Central European countries, and it is likely that the name has several spelling variants depending on where it was adopted.
Famous people with the name Pulker
- Alexander Pulker: Ukrainian-born Israeli Ambassador to Colombia.
- Alexander Pulker-Gactsch: Russian playwright, director and screenwriter.
- Lída Púlkerová: Czech writer and journalist.
- Lia Pulker: Israeli musician and singer.
- Dorit Pulker-Levy: Israeli artist.
- Hugo Pulker: Czechoslovakian-born Austrian actor.
- Hermann Pulker: Austrian-born American film director, producer and screenwriter.
- Géza Púlker: Hungarian sculptor.
- Ignaz Pulker: Austrian painter, poet and theatre personality.
- Karel Pulker: Czechoslovakian Olympic rower.
- Leonard Púlker: Slovakian-born Australian artist.
- Oscar Pulker: Hungarian-born American businessman.
- Takis Pulker: Greek chess player.
- Tiffany Pulker: American swimmer.
- Yuri Pulker: Russian filmmaker, screenwriter and cinematographer.