Surname Zillkens - Meaning and Origin
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Zillkens: What does the surname Zillkens mean?
The last name Zillkens is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word zilke, which means a small wooden vessel, typically used to measure grain, salt, or beer. It is likely that the earliest bearers of the name were merchants from German-speaking regions who dealt in grains and other commodities and used the containers to measure them.
The Zillken surname first appears in records identified with Germany in the 16th century and is found throughout the German-speaking world today. It can be found in many variants, such as Zillken, Zillkin, Zillkern, Zillakern, Zilikin, Zilkenn, and Zellke.
The Zillkens surname can often be found in records referring to various members of a family, some of whom may have achieved local fame or notoriety, such as mayors and soldiers. It is still a popular family name in Germany today. Members of the Zillkens family are often noted for being hard-working people who take pride in their heritage and cultural identity. They often pursue their dreams of success with tenacity and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisZillkens: Where does the name Zillkens come from?
The last name Zillkens is most common today in Germany and in the Netherlands, where the surname has a long history. The first known bearer of the name, Johannes Zillkens, was born in 1447 in the city of Hamburg. The name was likely derived from a place in Germany or possibly the Netherlands by the name of "Zillken," which was itself derived from a German word meaning "border meadow." Over the centuries, the family name began to spread as its members migrated to other areas of Europe and even to the United States, although it remains relatively uncommon in both countries.
Today, amongst the areas of heavy concentration of the Zillkens surname are the cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany. Here, the surname is found mainly in the cities of Düsseldorf, Essen, and Mülheim an der Ruhr. In the Netherlands, the name increasingly became popular during the 19th century, especially in the Provinces of Groningen and Drenthe.
In the US, Zillkens is mainly concentrated in California and Wisconsin, likely due to the immigration of Germans and Dutch during the 19th century. Although relatively uncommon, there is a small concentration in the city of Chicago, Illinois. It is a small number when compared to other surnames from the region, especially those of British, French, and Irish origin.
Variations of the surname Zillkens
The surname Zillkens is of Germanic origin, and variants of the name include Zeillkens, Zillgins, Zellkens, and Ziglekens. Variations in spelling may typically occur with a surname, as the same surname may have various spelling variations over time. In addition, some individuals may subtly change the spelling of their last name especially if they immigrate to another country.
The roots of the Zillkens name trace back to the ancient and mysterious Germanic tribes that once inhabited the large area of Germania, which included what today is modern day Germany. The Zillkens surname derived from the Germanic personal name Zillken, which is composed of two elements “zil” meaning “request” and “ken” meaning “brave.”
The Zillkens surname is most commonly found in Germany; however, there are family members who are known to have emigrated to different places around the world throughout the centuries. These individuals have kept the Zillkens surname alive in places such as the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia.
Variants can be found for the Zillkens surname primarily in parts of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. These variant spellings include Zeleken, Zelken, Zillgen, and Zilven. Surnames that share the same roots as Zillkens include Zillger, Zellni, Ziglekens, and Vander Zillkens.
Famous people with the name Zillkens
- Lorenz Zillkens, German tennis player
- Gregor Zillkens, German sprint canoeist
- Johannes Zillkens, German Paralympic sports shooter
- Gunna Zillkens, German entrepreneur and TV-star
- Ante Zillkens, Dutch footballer
- Arthur Zillkens, German Protestant theologian and university teacher
- August Zillkens, German botanist and entomologist
- Sven Zillkens, German ski mountaineer
- Karl Zillkens, German footballer
- Gerhard Zillkens, German professional footballer