Surname Meineken - Meaning and Origin
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Meineken: What does the surname Meineken mean?
Meineken is a Dutch family name. It has its origins in the name of a small village called Meine located in the province of Overijssel in the east of the Netherlands.
The earliest known record of the name Meineken dates back to 1390, when a man named Jacobus de Meinekene was recorded as a member of the clergy. The name could also be derived from the Middle Dutch "Menekekin", referring to a small servant or helper.
The surname has a variety of spellings, including Meijneken, Meinemein, Meiners, and even Mininikin. Many of the bearers of the name eventually settled in other cities in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
There is no consensus on the meaning of the name but it is likely that it has something to do with a small or humble servant. The name is still common in the Netherlands and is used by people who are descendants of the original Meineken lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisMeineken: Where does the name Meineken come from?
The last name Meineken is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. It has regional variants such as Meynken, Meynkens and Meijken, which can be found in both Germany and the Netherlands, as well as variants in various other European countries.
In Germany, the name initially arose around the time of the medieval period when families began using last names. The Meineken surname is thought to have originated from the ancient Germanic word ‘magin’, meaning ‘strength’. Many of the early records of the Meineken family are from churches in East Frisia and Saxony during the 16th century. These records showed Meinekens as being landowners, merchants and religious leaders.
The Meineken name is also well documented in the Netherlands. This form of the surname originated during the early 1800s when Napoleon's armies invaded and occupied countries in the Low Countries. As residents were encouraged to adopt last names, some took the Meineken name.
Today, the surname Meineken can be found mainly in Germany and the Netherlands, as well as in countries such as Austria and Switzerland. The name is also somewhat common in the United States and Canada, suggesting that the Meineken family was among the many European immigrants who resettled in these countries in the mid- to late-1800s.
Variations of the surname Meineken
Meineken is a patronymic surname, derived from the German personal name Meinhard, which itself is an old Germanic combination of two words 'mein' meaning 'my' and 'hard', meaning 'brave, strong, or hardy'. The surname has many variant spellings and other surnames of similar origin, which are predominantly found in German-speaking countries. These variants include Menken, Meinecke, Meneke, Meineking, Menecken, Meynken, and Meyncken.
It is also found as a Jewish surname, along with other similar variants such as Mynken and Myneken. This spelling would suggest German-Jewish origins instead of traditional German.
The surname is sometimes found in the England and the United States, but not as commonly as it is found in Germany. In these countries, variants such as Maneke or Manake are commonplace.
The surname is extremely common in Northern Germany, particularly in central and Lower Saxony. It is also occasionally found in regions of the Netherlands, such as Friesland, Utrecht, and North Holland.
The Scandinavian variants of the surname include Mainken and Meineken. This spelling is found most commonly in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Meineken is an easily recognizable surname that has multiple spellings and variants for people to observe and research. Despite its many spellings, the origin of the name remains the same and is more commonplace than some may assume.
Famous people with the name Meineken
- Alfred Heineken: Dutch businessman, former chairman of the Heineken brewing company.
- Frank Heineken: Dutch businessman and philanthropist, former Chairman and CEO of Heineken International.
- Freddy Heineken: Dutch businessman, former president of Heineken International and great-grandson of the founder of the brewery.
- Robée Heineken: Dutch lawyer and former CEO of Heineken.
- Rene Heineken: Dutch brewing executive who served as CEO of Heineken International until 2002.
- Alfred Heineken Jr.: Dutch businessman and former chairman of Heineken International, and son of Alfred Heineken.
- Klaus Michael Heineken: Dutch banker and businessman, former Heineken board member and son of Alfred Heineken.
- Ron Heineken: Dutch marketing executive and former member of the Heineken executive board.
- Bonnie Heineken: Dutch businesswoman and board member of Heineken International.
- Willem Heineken: Dutch businessman and former Chairman of Heineken International, and son of Alfred Heineken.