Surname Engelken - Meaning and Origin
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Engelken: What does the surname Engelken mean?
The last name Engelken is German in origin, and derived from a given name ‘Engel’. The root of this name is from the Germanic word ‘Angel’ which means ‘messenger’. It was a popular given name prior to the 17th century, and due to its nature, the cognate derived surnames Engel and Engelken are typically associated with clergymen, who were considered divine messengers of God.
The traditional spelling of Engelken or Engelman is mostly limited to the region of Northern Germany and the Netherlands. The last name is also common in northern Switzerland, South Westphalia, and areas of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Due to population shifts, a large number of individuals bearing the Engelken last name have since made their way to the US and Parks Canada, usually as a result of immigration. The given name Engel is still very common in Germany and is still seen in its masculine and feminine forms, Engel and Angel.
The last name Engelken can be translated to ‘messenger of God’ or ‘angelic messenger’. This evokes a sense of spirituality and the bearer of the name can keep this cultural connection and sense of history alive by remaining proud of their roots within their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisEngelken: Where does the name Engelken come from?
The last name Engelken is commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name is likely of German origin and can also be found in Germany and other parts of Europe.
In the United Kingdom, the Engelken name is especially associated with the city of Leicester. Local records suggest that the earliest known instance of the Engelken name was John Engelken, who was baptized in the parish of St. Nicholas, Leicester in 1747. Since then, the name has spread throughout the UK, with a number of notable Engelkens residing in various cities like London and Oxford.
In the United States, Engelken is especially common in the Midwest, particularly in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. One of the earliest noticeable immigrants of this name was Christian Engelken, who arrived in Philadelphia from Germany in 1742. Since then, the name expanded to the Midwest with Engelkens moving into cities like Indianapolis, Chicago, and Cleveland.
In Canada, Engelken families are found primarily in the province of Alberta. Records show that the first Engelkens in Canada arrived in the early 1900s, with most settling in the province’s capital, Edmonton.
Finally, the Engelken name is also found in Australia, where it can be found in cities like Perth and Sydney. The earliest arrival of Engelkens came in the 1880s, with the family settling in north-eastern New South Wales.
Overall, the Engelken name is quite widespread, but with its origins in Germany, it especially associated with various parts of the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Engelken
The Engelken surname has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Engelding, Engeln, Engellingen, Engelman, Engelmann, Engelmannen, Engelmen, Engelnken, Ingelken, and Engiles.
Engelken is of Germanic origin and is derived from the name Engel, which means "angel" or "messenger of God". The surname first appeared in records in the 16th century and was likely adopted by people who believed they were messengers from God.
In the Netherlands, people with the Engelken surname are most commonly found in the province of Gelderland, although the name is found throughout the country. The name is also found in areas of Germany (especially in the North Rhine-Westphalia province) and Belgium.
Variations of this surname include Engelkin, Engelman, Engelmans, Engeldinks, Engeldinger, Engeling, Engelinger, Engelken, Engelkens, Engelman, and Engle. Spellings such as Engelding and Engelman are likely based on a combination of German and Dutch dialects.
Surnames that are likely derived from Engelken are Engles, Engelker, Engleson, Ingels, Ingleson, Ingelding, Inglesby, Ingelsbe, Ingelsbee, Inglesbee, and Ingeldt.
In some cases, the variations of the name Engelken were derived from alternate spellings of the English name Angel. These surnames include Angell, Angle, Angles, Angels, Angells, Anglem,Anglis and Angler.
Overall, Engelken is a surname that has many variants, spellings and related surnames due to its German origin. It is found throughout the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, as well as other countries, and has been adapted over time to fit the dialects of each region.
Famous people with the name Engelken
- Cris Engelken: Singer-Songwriter and member of the music duo Innocent Eve
- Rineke Engelken: Dutch director, filmmaker, and photographer
- Konrad Engelken: German architect from the 19th century
- Klaus Engelken: German former footballer
- Stacy Engelken: American track and field athlete
- Damaris Engelken: German golfer who competed in the 1980s
- Hans Engelken: South African poet and artist
- Gerhardt Engelken: German futurist art critic in the early 20th century
- Martin Engelken: German politician and member of the Social Democratic Party
- Gretel Engelken: German actress and singer in the 1950s