Surname Wienken - Meaning and Origin
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Wienken: What does the surname Wienken mean?
The last name Wienken is of German origin and is derived from the surname Wienke, which is derived from a personal name derived from the Old High German word "winih" meaning "friend" or "companion". The modern German form of the name is Wiencke.
The name was first used as a hereditary surname primarily by the descendants of Wienke, a Germanic tribesperson in the eighth century. Records of the surname date back to the Middle Ages when a family bearing the name Wienke were reportedly found in the documents of the city of Lübeck in 1298. Similarly, a noble family bearing the name Wienke was reported to have been living in the city of Wismar in 1340.
The popularity of the surname was carried through the centuries with the name recorded in many regions across Germany. In modern times, the surname can still be found throughout Germany and other countries with German heritage, as family members have emigrated to other parts of Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.
The Wienken surname is typically associated with friendliness, loyalty, and strong connections to family and friends.
Order DNA origin analysisWienken: Where does the name Wienken come from?
The last name Wienken is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States. In Germany, it is in the top 1,000 most common surnames. In the Netherlands, it is in the top 4,000 and in Belgium, it is in the top 5,000. In the United States, it is considered a rare surname.
According to the US Census of 2000, there were 561 people bearing the surname Wienken. Most of them live in the Northern region of the US, with a large concentration in the Midwest. Wisconsin has the largest population with 129 people. The most common state for Wienkens was Pennsylvania (103), followed by Wisconsin, Iowa (48), Michigan (47), and Indiana (42). Some of the lesser common states for Wienkens include New Jersey, Colorado, and Illinois.
The origin of the name Wienken is not entirely clear, although some suggest it is derived from Germanic terms meaning "little friends." Wienkens were once a powerful noble family in Germany, but today their name is not considered particularly prestigious. The majority of living Wienkens are now mostly middle-class citizens working in various occupations.
Variations of the surname Wienken
Wienken is derived from an old German or Middle Low German patronymic surname, signaling that its original holder was the son of one named "Wieneke". The name has multiple variants, alternate spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Van Wienken/Van Wieneke, Von Wienken/Von Wieneke, Weinken, Weink, Wynken, Wienke, and Wyneken.
The surname Wienken can be found as far back as the 15th century, with a record of one Beycke van Wienken from the city of Borger in Drenthe, Netherlands in 1519. The records show that the Van Wieneke surname was derived from that of the gentleman’s grandfather, Éaŋ Wieneke.
Since its origin, the name has spread throughout Europe, and variants of it can now be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, and the Netherlands. In Germany today, the most common variants are Wienken, Weinken, Weink, and Wynken. The most common spelling in Austria is Wienke, while in Switzerland, the variant Wyneken is the most common.
Variants of the surname can also be found in other countries such as the United States and Canada. Records show that many families bearing the name Wienken emigrated from Germany to the United States and Canada in the 19th century. In the US, the variant spelled Wienken is most common, followed by Weinken and Wienke. In Canada, the most common spelling is Wynken.
Famous people with the name Wienken
- Vanessa Wienken: German footballer, member of the German Women's National Football Team for the UEFA Women's Euro 2021.
- Mike Wienken: American entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
- Wilhelm Wienken: German educator and social reformer.
- Henning Wienken: German biologist and Prof. of molecular physiology at the University of Cologne.
- Theodor Wienken: German politician and representative of the German Christian Democratic Union.
- Jennifer Wienken: German journalist and TV anchor for the ZDF heute journal.
- Günter Wienken: German professional soccer player and Bundesliga champion with FC Kaiserslautern.
- Bernd Wienken: German racing cyclist and two-time German National Time Trial Champion.
- Nico Wienken: German actor and celebrity, best known for appearances in the films Lola und Bill and A Star is Born.
- Thomas Wienken: German Paralympic long-distance runner and four-time Paralympic gold medalist at the 1988 Games.