Surname Scharpenack - Meaning and Origin
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Scharpenack: What does the surname Scharpenack mean?
The surname Scharpenack is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "Scharfenack", which means someone who sharpens axes. The name is likely to have been given to an individual ancestor who had the profession of sharpening axes, knives, or other edged tools with a grindstone or other sharpening apparatus.
The Scharpenack surname is most common in the United States, especially in the Midwest, where it is believed to have been brought over by German immigrants. In Germany, the last name was most common in the Prussian provinces of Pomerania and Brandenburg. Although there is no one definitive explanation for the origin of the Scharpenack name, one theory is that a "smith" or metalworker of that name emigrated from Germany to the U.S. early in the nineteenth century.
Scharpenack is an unusual name, but it is still recognizable in the United States. It is believed to have been adopted by many people who wanted to honor the skills and profession of their ancestor. It is a name that is associated with strength, industry, and skill, and those who hold the surname are proud to bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisScharpenack: Where does the name Scharpenack come from?
The last name Scharpenack is most commonly found today in the central United States, particularly in states like Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Originally of German borrowing, the surname originally appears as “Scharffeneck” or “Scharphenack.” The first immigrants with this name likely arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century.
This surname can be found in records from the earliest days of the U.S. Census, most prominently in states like Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. An analysis of the 1910 census suggests that the surname was particularly prevalent in the midwest, with more than 500 individuals living in the Midwest with the name Scharpenack at the time.
Today, the last name is far more widespread, with families spread across all of the 50 states in the union. According to Ancestry.com, the most recent census (which took place in 2020) revealed that there are over 2,500 individuals living in the United States who are named Scharpenack. It is possible, however, that the surname is now particularly common in the Central United States, where it was first established. In addition to the states already mentioned, the surname may be particularly prevalent in Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Minnesota.
Scharpenack is also fairly common in Canada (specifically in Ontario and Alberta) where it is likely of German origin as well. Additionally, there is a small number of Scharpenack families in Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Scharpenack
The surname Scharpenack is of German origin and can be found in records dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old High German word “skerpan“, meaning ‘to cut or sharpen’, which suggests that it may have originally been an occupational name for someone who worked as a blade smith.
Variants of the surname Scharpenack include Scharpenak, Scharpnick, Sharpenack, Sharpenak, Sharpenick, Sharpenike, Sharpernick and Shorpenack. Other spellings include Scharpenagi, Scharpineck, Scharpenerg, Schearpenack, Schirpenack, Schirpenik, Schirpenick, Schorpenack, Sharpernack, Sharpernik and Sherpenack.
The surnames Scharpenack, Sharpenack and Sharpernick are very common in Germany, and the variants Scharpnick, Sharpenike and Shorpenack can be found in their records. In the United States, the surnames Scharpenack and Sharpenack are the most common. The spelling Sharpernack is found in Switzerland, and the variants Scharpenagi, Scharpineck, Scharpenerg, Schearpenack, Schirpenack, Schirpenik, Schorpenack, Sharpernik and Sherpenack are found in other parts of Europe.
The surnames Scharpenack and Sharpenack can also be found in English records, and the variant Sharpernick can be found in Irish records.
Overall, the surname Scharpenack has a wide variety of spellings and is found in many countries, suggesting it has spread throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Scharpenack
- Frank Scharpenack: A sculptor, artist and visionary, Frank Scharpenack has been creating work that explores death, beauty, and life for decades.
- David Scharpenack: David Scharpenack is an American professional golfer currently playing on the PGA Tour.
- Paul Scharpenack–Paul Scharpenack is a former professional ice hockey player known for his time in the IHL and AHL leagues.
- Thomas Scharpenack: Thomas Scharpenack is an American experimental electronic musician and sound designer.
- Braden Scharpenack: Braden Scharpenack is an American composer, musician and sound designer whose work is heavily influenced by jazz, hip hop and electronica.
- Gregory Scharpenack: Gregory Scharpenack was an American college basketball coach who coached at the University of Detroit from 1940 to 1950.
- Kristen Scharpenack: Kristen Scharpenack is an American Paralympian swimmer who won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Paralympic Games held in Atlanta.
- Bill Scharpenack: Bill Scharpenack was a prominent real estate investor and entrepreneur in South Florida.
- André Scharpenack: André Scharpenack is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for VfL Wolfsburg.
- Christopher Scharpenack: Christopher Scharpenack is a film director, producer, and editor who has worked on documentary films, bourgeois drama, and independent films.