Surname Siebken - Meaning and Origin

Siebken: What does the surname Siebken mean?

The last name Siebken is a German surname originating from the medieval nickname “Siebke” which means “the one from the seventh". This would be in reference to a seventh child in a family. The surname first appeared in written records in northern Germany in the 14th century.

Today, the surname Siebken is found mainly in the German state of Lower Saxony around the cities of Hannover and Bremen. Its prevalence today is due to its presence in this area in the 16th century, when ancestry records were first being kept.

From this name, variations have occurred over the centuries, including Seibke, Seibken, Siebke and Siebken.

The surname Seibke is still prevalent among German Americans who settled in the midwest United States. The name Siebke can also be found in Canada.

Given its origins from a nickname, the last name Siebken has no clear meaning or origin, but is a name that has spanned centuries, crossed national borders, and has remained in use in some form until today.

Siebken: Where does the name Siebken come from?

The last name Siebken is common in areas of Northern Germany today, particularly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. The name is also found in Denmark, since the region was historically part of the Danish Kingdom. Records indicate the name was present in Denmark as early as the 17th century.

Siebken is an occupational name, derived from the Old German word “siepken”, meaning ‘bucket maker’ or ‘cooper’. As such, many of the original families with the surname lived in towns with strong cooperages or breweries that used large wooden casks or barrels to store and transport liquids.

On a global scale, the surname Siebken is not particularly common. Relatively few people carry the name outside of Northern Germany, Denmark, and the surrounding countries. Despite its limited geographic spread, however, it continues to be inherited by successive generations.

In recent years, the internet has made it easier for people with the surname to find and connect with one another, forming small but active global communities. Such networking sites allow people to explore their shared history, discover their familial connections, and even track down distant relatives they never knew existed.

Variations of the surname Siebken

The surname Siebken is a variation of the German surname Siepken. It is a habitational name derived from the various places in Germany named Siepke or Siepken. Variants of the surname Siebken include Sebke, Siebke, Siebeke, Sieben, Siebenke, Siebens, Siebken, Siebler, Siecke, Sieckel, Sieffken, Siep, Siepke, Siepker, Siepken, Siefken, Siefkes, Siefking, and Siffken.

Sebke is the most common German spelling of the Siebken surname and is likely the original spelling of the name. This is supported by records from the Old Germanic and Germanic Era of the 11th century. Records of people bearing the Sebke surname have been found in Westphalia and Saxony, which are regions in modern-day Germany.

The Siebke variation of the surname likely began when residents of the different regions started adapting the spelling of their surnames to fit the local dialect. This means that various spellings of the Siebken surname evolved over time as the family members moved to different towns and villages.

Surnames derived from villages and towns, such as Siebken, usually follow the tradition of the patronymic surname. This means that the surname was likely derived from the father’s given name. The given name that the Siebken surname likely derived from was Sebke. This name means “strong fighter” or “powerful warrior” in German.

The Siebken surname is relatively uncommon compared to other German surnames, but there are many contemporary people around the world who still bear this name. Despite this, the Siebken surname is still an important part of German history and will likely continue to be a part of the culture in years to come.

Famous people with the name Siebken

• Matthias Siebken: A German opera singer and tenor, Siebken is a sought-after artist and is often asked to perform in Berlin, London and Paris.
• Konrad Siebken: A successful Danish businessman and investor. He was also the founder and chairman of the Danish Securities Association.
• William Siebken: An American actor. He appeared in many theatre plays and movies and had roles in television series such as ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Friends.’
• Thorsten Siebken: A German film producer and director, Siebken is best known for his work on ‘Freedom and Liberty’ and ‘The Revenant.’
• Carl Friedrich Siebken: An architect and town planner from Hamburg, Germany. He was notable for his design of the city of Hamburg's administrative buildings.
• Amalie Siebken: A Danish landscape painter. Siebken was famous for her intricate paintings depicting the Danish countryside.
• Louise Siebken: A German biologist, she was also a notable feminist and activist. She is remembered for her pioneering research in the field of marine biology.
• Ruth Siebken: An Austrian writer and journalist. She published many books and was an influential voice in the early environmentalist movement.
• Barbara Siebken: A renowned mathematician and scholar, she is credited with the invention of the Virchow-Smoller theorem on the differential equations of gravity.
• Ingrid Siebken: A prominent German classical pianist and composer. Siebken’s compositions and performances of the works of Bach and Beethoven were widely lauded.

Other surnames

SiebkeSiebkes