Surname Menkes - Meaning and Origin
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Menkes: What does the surname Menkes mean?
The surname Menkes is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin. It comes from the Hebrew personal name Menahem, meaning "comforter," which was shortened to Menke in Yiddish. This surname is spelled Menkes, Menkis, Menckes, Mencke, Menske, Menskes, and other variations in Europe.
The Menkes surname was common among the Jews of Eastern Europe and the Ashkenazi Jewish communities there. Jewish people of the surname Menkes settled in the major cities such as Krakow, Warsaw, and Vilna in Poland; Kiev and Chernigov in Ukraine; Minsk in Belarus; and Riga in Latvia. The Menkes family also had a strong presence in Germany, including Berlin and Hamburg; Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The name Menkes has been used by members of many Jewish families and clans. It has been passed down through generations and is still used today. The name Menkes is an important part of many Jewish families’ history and can be found in many documents and records going back hundreds of years. It continues to provide a symbol of pride, connection, and identity for the Jewish people.
Order DNA origin analysisMenkes: Where does the name Menkes come from?
The last name Menkes is not particularly common today. It can be found primarily among descendants of Ashkenazi Jews in Europe and the United States. Ashkenazi Jews are a population group with origins in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Menkes last name has its origins in Jewish communities in Poland and Lithuania, and has become more widespread due to displacement during world wars. The name has been especially prevalent in the United States since the late 19th century, with the most significant level of immigration occurring from 1880 to the early 1900s, when Jews migrated to the US out of persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe.
Today, Menkes can be found among Jewish communities, mostly in urban areas on the East Coast and California, as well as in other parts of the world. It is less common in other countries, though there are some instances in South America, Canada, and Europe. Menkes names can also be found in Jewish genealogical, family history, and immigration records, which offer a more detailed and personal account of where and how the name has spread.
Variations of the surname Menkes
The surname Menkes is a Jewish surname of Dutch and German origin. It is also spelled as Manak, Manack, Manakas, Manakos, Minakas, Minaks, Manickam, Monikas, Monokas and Monacas. The surname has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin in other countries, including Menke (Dutch), Mencko (Polish), Menkes (Hungarian), Menkis (Lithuanian), Menki (Swiss), Mynck (Yiddish), Minkov (Russian), Menker (German), Menkhaus (German), Menkevich (Ukrainian), Menkewitz (Israeli), Monkkonen (Finnish) and Monkevich (Ukrainian).
Menkes is an occupational surname, derived from the Dutch word “Manke”, which means “working man” or “servant”. This surname is widely found among Jews in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia. Historically, it was used to refer to people who worked at or owned a tailor’s shop or tailor’s guild.
The surname Menkes is known to have various spellings throughout the world. In the United States, the surname is spelled as Manak and Manack. In Canada, the surnames are Monikas and Monokas. In Greece, the surname is spelled as Minakas and Minaks. In Poland, the surname is Mencko. In Hungary, it is Menkes. In the United Kingdom, it is spelled as Manickam. In Germany, the surnames are Menker and Menkhaus. In Finland, it is Monkkonen.
No matter the spelling, the surname Menkes is a common one among Jews, and one that has a long history. With a rich variety of spellings, this surname infiltrated countries all over the world.
Famous people with the name Menkes
- Joanna Menkes: Joanna Menkes is a renowned British fashion journalist who has worked at some of the most prestigious publications in the world, such as The Times and the Guardian. She is also a professor at the Royal College of Art in London.
- Simon Menkes: Simon Menkes is a well-known British artist. He is particularly renowned for large scale installations exploring themes like war, environment and technology.
- Simon Menkes: Simon Menkes is an American filmmaker and movie producer. His work has been recognized by several awards, such as the Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards.
- Sol Menkes: Sol Menkes is a noted American actor, producer and writer. He has been featured in televisions shows like “NCIS” and “Army Wives” and movies like “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”.
- Debra Menkes: Debra Menkes is a Canadian filmmaker and film director. She is best known for her films “All Our Lives” and “The Last Word”.
- Claude Menkes: Claude Menkes is a French art collector and adviser. He has been instrumental in the purchase and donation of some of the most important French paintings throughout the world.
- Jesse Menkes: Jesse Menkes is an American film and television producer. He is best known for his work on popular shows like “New Girl” and “30 Rock”.
- Kenneth Menkes: Kenneth Menkes is an American physician and professor emeritus of pathology at Harvard Medical School. He is well-known for his work on cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Rafi Menkes: Rafi Menkes is an Israeli entrepreneur and business executive. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Wix.com, an online network for building websites.