Surname Sulke - Meaning and Origin

Sulke: What does the surname Sulke mean?

The last name Sulke is of German origin. It likely refers to a person from the region Sulke, which is located in the Höxter district of North Rhine-Westphalia. In the 13th century, the name Sulke was used to refer to a tax collector, similar to the English term 'sheriff'. Other possible origins include the Old German term 'sulcon', meaning 'to mine', and the Old German word 'sulha', meaning 'bucket'.

The name Sulke can also be found in Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish records. It has often been spelled as Sulken, Sulcke, Suhlke, Sulke, and Sulken, to name a few variations. It has also been known to become anglicized as Sullens, Sulkin, Sulkens, Sulkens, and Sulke.

The surname is often associated with those of Jewish descent. This is likely due to the fact that a number of Jewish families adopted the surname upon their immigration to Germany in the 17th century.

Throughout its history, the name Sulke has been linked to a variety of occupations. These include blacksmith, carpenter, farmer, and barber. It is likely, however, that many of those who bear the last name today will be related through a common ancestor from the small town of Sulke.

Sulke: Where does the name Sulke come from?

The last name Sulke is a surname found in Germany and other parts of central Europe. It is believed to have originated in the Saxony region of eastern Germany. The last name was likely derived from the Old High German word “Sulk” or “Sulke”, which means “salt” or “sea”.

Today, Sulke is a relatively uncommon surnam in many countries, including the United States. However, it is still most commonly found in Germany, with records of people with the last name living in Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, and other parts of the country. It is also found in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Naturally, as travel and immigration increase, the Sulke surname has slowly spread throughout the world and become more common, even if it’s not yet widespread. It is now found in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom, with the largest population of Sulke family members living in the UK. Additionally, records show that there are now Sulke family members in the US, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.

Given its prominent roots in Europe, Sulke is still more common in the region than other parts of the world. However, it has begun to spread throughout the globe thanks to increased travel and globalization, making it increasingly easier for distant family members to connect with one another.

Variations of the surname Sulke

The variants, spellings, and surnames for the same origin for the surname Sulke include Sulka, Sulkowski, Sulkus, Sulkauskas, Sulkevitch, Sulkevicius, and Sulkiner.

Sulka is a Baltic surname, mainly from Lithuania, and is derived from "Sulka," the Lithuanian and Latvian term for a furrier's bag or wallet.

The Lithuanian surname Sulka has been spelled Sulke, Sulkauskas, Sulkowski, Sulkus, Sulkevich, Sulkevicius, and Sulkiner. It is also found in Poland.

The Estonian surname Sulkus originated from the Estonian name Sulk, though it was changed due to difficulties in pronunciation of the letter "K" in Estonian. It is usually an adoption of the Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian surname Sulka.

The Swedish spelling Sulker is derived from the Baltic surname. It is also related to the Polish and Russian form.

The Danish surname Sulke is also derived from the same origin, from the Lithuanian and Latvian term for furrier.

The Yiddish spelling Sulke is derived from the Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian form. It may also closely relate to the Ukrainian surname Sulka, which is derived from the same root.

All of these surnames, variants, and spellings are closely related and have the same origin, which is likely to be derived from the Lithuanian and Latvian term 'Sulka', meaning 'furrier's bag or wallet'.

Famous people with the name Sulke

• Ben Sulke: Ben is a professional International Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer based in the UK. He is also a consultant for horse-riding technique and wellness.
• Mikael Sulke: Mikael is an Estonian artist and sculptor. His work has received numerous awards and honors and is widely exhibited and internationally acclaimed.
• Night Sulke: Night is a Finnish actress and director, based in Stockholm. She has acted in several feature films and television series, and directed two films.
• Amanda Sulke: Amanda is a novelist known for her historical fiction and children's stories. Three of her novels have been internationally bestsellers.
• Pete Sulke: Pete is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Netherlands. He has released several albums and performed at several live concerts.
• Boris Sulke: Boris is a Russian mathematician and educator who achieved international success for his research in number theory and group theory.
• Ruth Sulke: Ruth is a Welsh poet known for her magical and dreamy style of writing. Her first two books of poetry were well-received and widely praised.
• Jonathan Sulke: Jonathan is an award-winning outdoors photographer based in South Africa. His photographs have been published in major publications around the world.
• Mina Sulke: Mina is a Swiss architect and urban designer who specializes in public housing and urban renewal. She is a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and an active member of the Architectural League of Europe.
• Edward Sulke: Edward is a British director and cinematographer. He is known for his award-winning work on documentary films.

Other surnames

SulkSulkiewicz