Surname Lamke - Meaning and Origin
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Lamke: What does the surname Lamke mean?
The last name Lamke is of German origin. It is believed to have originated from the Old High German-language word "lamke" which literally means "lamb". The name was likely originally given to a person who earned their living herding lambs or otherwise tending to them.
The surname likely began to be used as a given name during the 15th century as the popularity of names ending with “–ke” began to increase in Germany. As this time period was a period of high immigration to Germany, the name may have also been adopted as a taken name by immigrant families, rather than being passed down as a hereditary surname.
The Lamke surname is still relatively common in Germany, and is also common amongst the German-American immigrant population. It is found in various spelling variants, such as Lamke, Lamki, and Lamkes.
Overall, the last name Lamke has a history of association with sheep herding and immigrational roots. Today, it is still often used to identify individuals of German descent.
Order DNA origin analysisLamke: Where does the name Lamke come from?
The last name Lamke is most commonly found in Germany. It is thought that the surname originated in northern Germany, from places such as the historical Prussia, Brandenburg, Westphalia and Pomerania. In recent years, it has spread to other countries, with Lamke families being found in Canada, England, New Zealand, the United States of America and Australia.
In Germany, the Lamke surname can be found in many regions, but the highest population of Lamkes is in the western states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The surname is steadily growing in the United States and Canada, with Lamke families residing in California, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin and Alberta. It is also common in states in the midwest, northeast and southeast of the country.
In terms of its meaning, the name Lamke could be derived from the Old German word “lamke”, meaning “idiot” or “crazy person”. Alternatively, the name could also be related to the Middle High German word “lammic”, which means “lamb” or “lamb-like”.
In conclusion, the last name Lamke is most commonly found in Germany, but can also be found in the United States, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand. It is thought that the name could have originated from the Old German word “lamke”, meaning “idiot” or “crazy person”, or the Middle High German word “lammic”, meaning “lamb” or “lamb-like”.
Variations of the surname Lamke
The surname Lamke is of German origin and is usually found in the German-speaking countries of central Europe. The variants and spellings of the surname Lamke include Lamcke, Lamke, Lamkoe, Lamk, Lomke, Lomko and Lomck.
The surname Lamke is most commonly found in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. Other places in Germany where the name is found, include Westphalia, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein, while its variants are most common in the state of Brandenburg.
Outside of Germany, the surname Lamke has spread to other countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States. In the US, the variants and spellings of the surname Lamke are found mainly in the Midwest and South.
Lamke is also a surname common in the Jewish-German communities of Europe, with variants Lamcke and Lomke having their own distinct histories. The variants Lamcke and Lomke may have been derived from the name of a profession of the founding ancestor, or may have arisen due to the adoption of a particular regional pronunciation of Lamke.
In addition, the surname Lamke may have changed as a result of migration or marriage. It may have resulted in a blend of two or more words, or may have been corrupted during a transcribing process, leading to additional variants.
Overall, the surname Lamke and its variants provide a glimpse into the development of distinct German surnames, as well as the migration of German-speaking people around the world. Despite minor changes in spelling and pronunciation, all variants and spellings are derived from the same original surname Lamke.
Famous people with the name Lamke
- Peter Lamke: German film and television actor.
- Robert Lamke: American actor, director, and producer.
- Lars Lamke: Swedish Olympic swimmer and coach.
- Carl Lamke: American politician and civil service commissioner.
- Richard Lamke: American diplomat and ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
- Michael Lamke: Australian politician.
- Egon Lamke: German basketball player.
- Ray Lamke: American physicist and chemist.
- Rosemary Lamke: American singer-songwriter and guitarist.
- Janet Lamke: American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.