Surname Symank - Meaning and Origin
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Symank: What does the surname Symank mean?
The surname Symank is of German origin. It is derived from the German personal name "Simon," which in turn is from the Hebrew name "Shim'on," meaning "hearkening" or "listening." The "k" at the end is a diminutive suffix frequently used in Germanic languages, suggesting "little" or "young Simon." Thus, the surname could essentially mean "son of Simon" or "little Simon." Surnames were often derived from personal names during the Middle Ages, serving as a way to create a family identity. As with many surnames, geographical distribution of the Symank name across the world has moderately increased due to patterns of migration and movement over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSymank: Where does the name Symank come from?
The last name Symank is most commonly found in Germany, having the highest population of individuals with the last name. Records show it first appeared in Upper Bavaria in the late 19th century and has become increasingly more widespread throughout the country. It has also appeared in other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.
The United States has a growing population of Symanks as well, with one of the founders of Symank & Associates, Inc., a family-owned civil engineering firm founded in Jamestown, North Dakota in 1986, having this last name. It is also believed some Symanks have immigrated to the United States from Europe over the past few decades.
The last name is often regarded as a derivation of the German work "Simoneke", which refers to someone with a personal sense of humor. It may also be related to the origins of the name Symank itself, which is believed to derive from a combination of the Greek names “simus” and the Welsh “Andrew” combined with the Mid-High German “kopp”, which means head-high.
Regardless of its multiple possible origins, the last name Symank is increasingly common and shows no signs of dying out anytime soon, remaining popular among native German and international families.
Variations of the surname Symank
The surname Symank is of German origin. It is believed to have derived from a German location, surname, or nickname. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Simank, Syman, Seymank, Seman, Siemienk, Siumank, Siemank, Siamank, Symanczak, Simenk, Seaman, Sizemore, Seymann, and Seimann.
The origin of the Symank surname is believed to have stemmed from the Middle High German words ‘simen’ which means ‘with signs’ and the Old High German word ‘march’ which means ‘boundary’. In ancient times the Symanks would have been members of noble families who were entitled to mark and distinguish their properties from others. Over time, the name evolved and was eventually adopted as a surname, which could have come about as a result of intermarriages between two families.
The first known bearers of the Symank surname were likely located in the Germanic states around the 13th and 14th centuries and had likely adopted the surname at this time. Historical records indicate that the Symank name has been found in the state of Prussia since at least the 1600s. During the 19th century, many of the Symanks emigrated to the United States, with most settling in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest regions.
It is also believed that the Symank surname is a derivative of the same root surname found as Simenez or Simonz, which is found primarily in Spain and Portugal. It is said to have derived from the name Simon, which is derived from the Hebrew name Shim’on (meaning “hearing”). This surname is also found in Portugal and is believed to have derived from the ancient Hebrew name Shemu’el (meaning “God has heard”).
The various spellings and surnames of the same origin as Symank have evolved over centuries. Despite this, their origin can still be traced back to their Middle High German roots, providing insight into the history of families bearing the name.
Famous people with the name Symank
- Brad Symank: former American football player and current realtor.
- Damon Symank: former American football running back who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.
- Dana Symank: Retired American figure skater and choreographer who competed in the 1982 World Championships.
- Brian Symank: prominent American kickboxer and mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Tyler Symank: professional golfer, former PGA and Nationwide Tour winner.
- Travis Symank: American former professional football player who played in both the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).
- Dean Symank: former American football player who spent eight seasons in the NFL and CFL.
- Chris Symank: former American football wide receiver who played for the Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, and the Miami Dolphins.
- John Symank: retired sailor and former Army lieutenant who served in the Vietnam War and earned the Silver Star.
- Gary Symank: former American Major League Baseball pitcher who won two World Series titles with the New York Yankees.