Surname Wienke - Meaning and Origin
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Wienke: What does the surname Wienke mean?
The surname Wienke is a German surname of locational origin. It likely derives from a place name, quite possibly one located in either northeastern Germany or in the Pomerania region. Alternatively, it may be derived from the German word for vineyard, which may refer to someone living in or near a vineyard.
The earliest known records of the Wienke surname are found in a feudal church document near Berlin dated 1362. The document lists one Heinrico Vynke. Other early records include 1375 and 1379 in a Prussian tax register as well as a list of members of the Great Council of Berlin dated 1445.
Because the Wienke surname is so ancient, it is difficult to determine whether or not it has a specific meaning. However, given its locational origin, it can be assumed that it likely means from, or of, the place referred to. It is not known whether or not the place specifically referred to a vineyard or some other type of settlement.
Despite its ancient origin, the Wienke surname is still found today, especially in northeastern Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisWienke: Where does the name Wienke come from?
The last name Wienke is most commonly found in Germany today. According to Ancestry.com, Wienke is the 672nd most common surname in the country, with 3,419 people in Germany bearing the name. It is generally assumed to have originated in Prussia, an area located in the northeast of modern Germany. The root of the name likely comes from the Old German term ‘winnan’, which roughly translates to ‘to gain, conquer, win’. It is possible that it was initially used as a battle cry or as a nickname to refer to a victorious individual. There are numerous variants of the name, which include Winke, Weincke, Vince, Vienken, Viencken, Vinke, and Venke.
Outside of Germany, the name is also relatively common in the Netherlands as well as in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, it is quite rare in the United States, where the name only ranks as the 40,603rd most popular surname. The main states with significant numbers of Wienke families include California, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In each of these states, the name is still rather uncommon but has a small but notable presence.
In conclusion, Wienke is a surname with German-language roots that is still quite common in Germany today, though its presence is much lower elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Wienke
The surname Wienke is of German origin and is derived from a nickname or from an occupational name. Variations of the name include Wienkes, Wiencken, Wiencking, Wienken, Wienk, Wienkem, and Wienkelt. Other spellings of the name include Wiencke, Wienck, Wienicke, Wienigk, Wienigke, Wienincke, and Wienig.
Other surnames that are of the same origin as Wienke include Winke, Wink, Wincker, Wincke, Winckler, Week, Weke, Weck, 6Wecke, Weicker, Weickeler, Weickels, Weienke, Weienken, Weiencken, Weincke, and Weickert.
The origin of the name Wienke is derived from the German word 'winka', meaning corner or corner-dwelling. This indicates that the surname is most likely associated with people who lived in a corner dwelling.
The surname evolved from a nickname or from an occupational name for someone who was from a corner dwelling, or who was a precise or skilled worker. This nickname and occupational name eventually developed into the German surname Wienke.
The surname Wienke can also be found in other countries, such as Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Variations of the name in other countries include Winck, Wieck, Wiink, Weink, and Winckler.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Wienke has been recorded, spelled, and pronounced in different ways. The different variants of the name have been localized to specific countries, including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Famous people with the name Wienke
- Alexander Wienke: German bodybuilder and bodybuilding promoter
- Ansgar Wienke: German actor
- Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Wienke: German Lutheran theologian
- Charles Frederick Wienke: American farmer, lead miner, and society editor
- Georg Wienke: German architect and city planner
- Georg Wienke: German flight pioneer
- Jacob Wienke: German track and field athlete
- John Wienke: American football quarterback
- Luitpold Wienke: German mayor
- Margaret Wienke: American medical writer
- Reinhold Wienke: German artist and copper engraver
- Robert Wienke: German composer
- Willi Wienke: German bass guitarist
- Willy Wienke: German World War I flying ace