Surname Tjarks - Meaning and Origin

Tjarks: What does the surname Tjarks mean?

The last name Tjarks is of German origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the personal surname of Tetricus or Tetricius, with the addition of the suffix -tjark or -tjarks. The suffix -tjark can be translated as 'lord', 'master', or 'guardian', and in a sense was a title of nobility or characterizing an individual with heroic-like qualities.

In the modern day, Tjarks can be found across much of northern Europe, particularly in Germany, Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries. It is among the most common surnames in Germany, with many of its bearers in the Dutch and Scandinavian countries having roots in Germanic areas.

In terms of its meaning, Tjarks is generally thought to represent a status of authority or leadership, similar to that of a knight or chieftain in the Middle Ages. This can be an inspirational message for people with the Tjarks surname today, reminding them to carry the qualities of a courageous leader and battle any challenges that come their way.

Tjarks: Where does the name Tjarks come from?

The last name Tjarks is most commonly found in Northern Germany. Records suggest that it is mostly concentrated in Lower Saxony, although other German federal states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg are also known for having a Tjarks population, as well as Denmark.

The vast majority of Tjarks families today are descended from the families who emigrated from Northern Germany to the US and Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The earliest documented Tjarks family to arrive in North America was able to trace their ancestry back to the small village of Dangast by the North Sea in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Today, there is a large population of Tjarks families living in the US and Canada. Utilising genealogical resources, both online and in public archives, it is possible to determine a fairly detailed history of the families who migrated to the US and Canada. Such records are most likely to be found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maryland, Oregon, Texas and Ontario.

Large branches of the Tjarks family have settled in other parts of the world as well, particularly in South Africa, Peru and New Zealand. Other smaller and less documented branches exist in France, Australia, Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

Variations of the surname Tjarks

The surname Tjarks has some variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.

One possible variation is Tjärk which is a variant of the pre-Christian Norse name Tjärk or Tjark.

Other variations of the Tjarks surname include Tiers, Tjärks, Tjaerks, Tierks, Tyerks, Tyjarks, Thjarks, and Thyarks.

In Dutch, it could be spelled as Tjerks or Tejarks, and in Danish it might be spelled as Tjærks.

Other surnames which are thought to be related to the Tjarks surname include Jark, Jerk, and Yark.

The surname may also be related to the Old Germanic names Thorkill (meaning "Thor's successor"), Thorsten (meaning "Thor's Stone"), or Thurman (meaning "Thor's man").

Additionally, Tjarks is sometimes used as the German spelling of the English surname Tyler.

The name Tjarks appears to be common among the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. In the United States, it is most commonly found in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

Famous people with the name Tjarks

• Karen Tjarks: Danish politician, member of the Folketing and former leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party.
• Ane Tjarks: Danish news reporter and television presenter.
• Carl Tjarks: American lawyer and politician, member of the DuPage County Board of Commissioners in Illinois.
• Yannick Tjarks: German professional basketball player.
• Marti Tjarks: American-Belgian professional basketball player.
• Clemens Tjarks: German professional football coach.
• Nils Tjarks: German professional footballer.
• Melvin Tjarks: German professional football referee.
• Egbert Tjarks: German-American sculptor and musician.
• Harald Tjarks: German football manager, former manager of VfL Bochum.
• Jan Tjarks: German professional swimmer.
• Mieke Tjarks: Dutch former professional tennis player.
• Udo Tjarks: German professional boxer.
• Winsbert Tjarks: Dutch former professional volleyball player.
• Sandra Tjarks: German-American actress, best known for her roles in The Quiet War and Berlin Station.
• Reinhold Tjarks: German actor, best known for his roles in the television series Girls Club and Stromberg.
• Karl Tjarks: German-American visual artist, most renowned for his colorful abstract paintings.
• Rainer Tjarks: German-American film director, best known for directing the films The Dallas Connection, Happy Together, and Till Death Do Us Part.

Other surnames

Tjarksen