Surname Wehnke - Meaning and Origin
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Wehnke: What does the surname Wehnke mean?
The last name Wehnke is of German origin, and was historically a topographic name for someone living on a small road. Because the suffix "-ke" was usually added to the given name of the person living on a small road, it is likely that Wehnke is derived from a medieval given name, Wenz. This is a diminutive of the name Wernher, which is composed of the Germanic elements wern or warin, meaning “covered” or “protected”, and heri meaning “army”. When spelled as Wernher, it was typically a given name of warriors and nobles.
Several distinct Wehnke families can be found in early records, which indicates that the name has been represented in Germany for centuries. Records show many individuals bearing the Wehnke surname living in Prussian provinces in the 1800s. Later, individuals bearing this name immigrated to countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The Wehnke name is found throughout the United States today, with some of the most populous states with Wehnke families being Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York. It is also common in Canada, particularly in Manitoba and Ontario. The Wehnke name is most commonly associated today with German descent, but many other nationalities can be seen carrying the name as well.
Order DNA origin analysisWehnke: Where does the name Wehnke come from?
The lastname Wehnke is a German name. It is most commonly found in Germany, especially in northern and eastern Germany. It is also found in other German-speaking countries including Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It is also sometimes found in the United States and Canada due to immigration of German settlers in the past.
The meaning of Wehnke is not known for sure but it is thought to mean guardian of a weir, a type of dam, or from the area near a weir. Alternate spellings include Wehnck and Wehnkew.
The Wehnke family is thought to have originated as a wealthy, noble family, possibly owning castles or other large estates and living in northern Germany in the past. Today, there are a good number of Wehnkes living in Germany with their population estimated to be about 3,000 people according to a 2017 survey. This is an increase from the approximately 1,500 known Wehnkes in the 2010 survey, due to increased immigration and population growth.
The Wehnke family is hard to trace due to the commonality of the last name but there are some existing genealogical records from some Wehnkes. There are also many Wehnke related businesses and organizations, including churches, universities, and associations in Germany.
Overall, the Wehnke name is found in Germany today, as it has been since the Middle Ages.
Variations of the surname Wehnke
Wehnke is an old Scandinavian surname. Its precise origins are unknown, but its variants, spellings, and related surnames suggest that it derived from a personal name, most likely a combination of two old Norse elements.
Wehnke appears in various forms, spellingwise, starting from Wehncke, Wehneke, Wenhke to Winke, Winkels, Winston, and even Winkelmann. In some cases the first part, WEN, can be replaced with VIN, as in Vinkle, Vinkler, and Vint.
The related surnames Wenske, Wunsch, and Wunschke are likely derived from Wehnke, with Wenske from WEN + SK (referring to a weapon) and Wunsch from WEN + SCH ( meaning hope).
Another similar surname is Wenzel, derived from VENG + SL (meaning battle). Wenzel or its variants are more frequently found in German-speaking countries and may or may not be related to Wehnke.
Finally, other related surnames include Wiehnke, Wiedenke, and Widenke, all derived from Wih + NKE (meaning field) and indicating a person from a settlement.
In conclusion, Wehnke is an old Scandinavian surname with several variants, spellings, and related surnames. The most likely origin is a combination of old Norse elements, possibly a personal name. Still, some variants may be derived from different language backgrounds, such as German and Old Norse respectively, including Wenske, Wunsch, and Wenzel.
Famous people with the name Wehnke
- Brett Wehnke: former NFL quarterback and current broadcaster.
- Christopher Wehnke: former professional soccer player from Germany.
- Lisa Wehnke: former professional runner from the United States.
- Bill Wehnke: former computer scientist, entrepreneur, and public speaker.
- Arne Wehnke: former German painter, sculptor and ceramicist.
- Kristen Wehnke: 2012 Paralympic gold medalist in alpine skiing.
- John Wehnke: archaeologist from Denmark.
- Sarah Wehnke: German figure skater.
- Peter Wehnke: long distance runner and national champion from Switzerland.
- Bridget Wehnke: Australian Paralympic swimming champion.