Surname Imke - Meaning and Origin
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Imke: What does the surname Imke mean?
The surname Imke, also spelled Emke, is a Germanic name derived from the personal name Immo, which is a common short form for names beginning with Irmin. Immo itself is derived from the Germanic element Irmin, meaning "all-powerful." This element is derived from the name of the ancient Germanic god, Irmin.
The name Imke is most commonly found in northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Mecklenburg, Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein. Records of the name’s use as a surname stretch back into the 17th century in parts of Germany.
Today, the surname Imke is a common one in Germany, with many people carrying the name in both its forms, Emke and Imke. In the countries of Germany and the Netherlands, those who carry the last name have a common ancestry and geographical origin.
The surname Imke is associated with a number of notable individuals throughout history, including the 19th century German Romantic author Jacob Imke, who wrote widely about German literature and cultural history. Another prominent figure with the surname is Siegfried Imke, a German zoologist who made important contributions to the field of biology.
In short, the last name Imke comes from the ancient Germanic personal name Immo, which is derived from the element for "all-powerful." Records of the use of the name as a surname go back centuries, and those who carry the name today have a common geographical and ancestral origin.
Order DNA origin analysisImke: Where does the name Imke come from?
The last name Imke is a German surname that is believed to have been derived from the name 'Immer'. It is most common today in Germany, where it is still among the top 500 surnames. It can also be found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Latvia, the Netherlands, and other countries with Germanic associations. According to the US Census Bureau, it was the 11,111th most common surname in the United States in 2018.
The exact origins of the Imke surname are unclear, but some believe it sprang from a popular medieval given name. It appears to have been more common in northern Germany, where it may have emerged from the Old Germanic name 'Imar'. In the French city of Bologne, a branch of the name can be traced back to 1543.
Imke could also be a patronymic name that derived from old Scandinavian parentage such as Imgard, Edelgrim, and Imgrim, all of which mean 'forever' or 'always'. In 1607, a man named Garrit Imke was recorded as living in Bremen, Germany, when he acquired a property in the local parish.
Regardless of its origin, Imke is still a popular surname today, with numerous variations, including amenities such as Immke, Emock, Himke, Ihmke, Emke, Immek, Immeken, Ihmken, Himke, Himcken, and others. While it is particularly common in Germany, it can be found among Records of the United States and other countries with Germanic influences.
Variations of the surname Imke
The surname Imke is of Germanic origin, and there are a few variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. These surnames include Imke, Imck, Imkies, Imce, Imcken, Imckes, Imccke, Imcken, Immke, Immeck, and Imken.
The surname Imke is believed to be derived from the Germanic name “Ingemar”, which is derived from the word “Ing”, which means “ancestor” and “mar”, which means “famous”. This can be interpreted as the ancestor who is famous or is renowned. It was originally used as a personal byname that was adopted as a surname.
The Imke variant of the surname is most commonly seen in the Netherlands, whilst Imck and Immke are more commonly seen in Germany and Denmark. The variant Immeck is also found in Germany and Denmark, as well as in a few parts of France and Austria. The spelling Imce is more common in Germany, particularly in the east. The other variants of this surname, Imcken, Imckes, Imccke, and Imken are less common and may be specific to certain regions or families.
Overall, the surname Imke is of Germanic origin and there are many variants and spellings that are related to it. It is still relatively common today, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France, and Austria.
Famous people with the name Imke
- Henning Imke: German field hockey player
- Christian Imke: German football player
- Dorit Imke: German judoka
- Georg Imke: German lightweight rower
- Max Imke: German footballer
- Andreas Imke: German footballer
- Éva Imke: Hungarian sprint canoer
- Paul Imke: German ice hockey player
- Wolf Imke: German biologist
- Sonja Imke: German photographer