Surname Sherk - Meaning and Origin

Sherk: What does the surname Sherk mean?

Sherk is a surname of German origin, derived from the personal name "Sherk", a pet form of the name "Sherman" which means "shear man". In Middle English, "shear man" referred to someone who cuts or shears cloth, thus suggesting an occupational origin. This surname was therefore used for individuals involved in cloth making or tailoring during the Middle Ages. Over time, many variations of the spelling have appeared, including Shirk, Shirck, and Shurk. As with many surnames, geography and social conditions often led to these spelling changes as families migrated and adapted to new environments.

Sherk: Where does the name Sherk come from?

The last name Sherk is most common in the United States, where it ranks as the 7,476th most common surname. It is second most common in Canada, and is gaining popularity in Australia. It is also commonly found in Germany, Austria, and other western European countries where it is a relatively recent addition.

Sherk is a German surname that originated hundreds of years ago and is considered to be an occupational name for a scribe or clerk. The terms ‘scherge’ and ‘schreiber’ in German both meant ‘clerk’ and both could lead to the surname Sherk.

The United States is home to thousands of Sherks, with the largest concentrations living in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Michigan and New York. During the nineteenth century, families with the surname emigrated from Germany to the United States in large numbers and spread out across the country.

The last name Sherk is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and Australia. In the United Kingdom, the Sherk surname can be found in both England and Scotland. Many European immigrants to Australia in the nineteenth century also popularized the name in the country.

Overall, Sherk is a popular surname among German-speaking countries, especially in the United States. It is becoming increasingly more common in European countries and Australia, and it is likely that its popularity will continue to spread around the world.

Variations of the surname Sherk

The surname Sherk is derived from the Old Norse personal name Sigrk which is derived from the Old Norse words sigr meaning “victory” and kri meaning “ruler”. It is an anglicized spelling of the surname.

Variants of the surname include Seark, Sharke, Sharkey, and Shirky. Spellings of the surname include Sheark, Shirk, and Sherick.

Surnames of similar origin include Shirkie, Shick, and Shickley. These surnames vary by region, but are all variations of the same surname. Variants of these surnames include Shirkle, Shirckley, and Shikel.

Some of the surnames derived from the same origin are Shirk, Shirky, Shirkland, Shirkley, Shirkliff, Shirkloft, Shirkle, and Shirckley. These surnames can be found in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Germany.

In addition to the variations of the spelling of the surname Sherk, there are some variants of the surname in different languages, such as Shyrk in Polish, Roškovic in Croatian, Šerýk in Czech, and Voytsherk in Yiddish.

Given its widespread use, the surname Sherk is likely to have many derivatives, spellings, and variants across many languages and cultures.

Famous people with the name Sherk

• Rob Sherk: vice president of the National Hockey League Players' Association
• Jillian Sherk: Canadian filmmaker and executive producer
• Heather Sherk: Canadian professional wrestler and model
• Taliesin Jaffe: American voice actor, ADR director, and screenwriter who is credited as Rob Sherk
• Vance Sherk: Canadian Olympic rower
• Neil Sherk: retired American politician
• Marshall Sherk: retired figure skater and later journalist
• John Sherk: Canadian professional lacrosse player
• Joe Sherk: former American professional football player
• Jerry Sherk: former American professional football player
• Jason Sherk: former American professional football player
• Robert Kirby Sherk: former Canadian politician
• Shawn Sherk: former American professional wrestler
• Joe Sherk Bertrand: former Canadian ice hockey player
• Mike Sherk: former Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Lyle Sherk: former Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Vonnie Sherk: former Canadian professional ice hockey player

Other surnames

SheraSherarSherardSherbondySherbornSherbourneSherburnSherburneSherckSheredSheremanShererSherertzSherickSheridanSherifSherifiSherleyShermanSherodSherraSherrardSherrerSherretSherrickSherrillSherrinSherringSherritSherritt