Surname Strunk - Meaning and Origin

The Strunk Legacy: A Personal Narrative of Ancestry and Identity through the iGENEA DNA Test

Ever since receiving the insightful results of my iGENEA DNA test, I have embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery, becoming intimately connected with my family’s heritage, values, and enduring legacy. Unraveling the historical tapestry behind the surname Strunk has profoundly enhanced my sense of identity and connection to my roots.

W. Strunk

Strunk: What does the surname Strunk mean?

Strunk is a surname of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "strunc", which means "trunk or stump" and originally referred to someone who was stubby, short or stout. It may have been a nickname for someone who physically resembled a tree stump in build, both in terms of height and stoutness. The name Strunk belongs to a category of surnames known as hereditary surnames, which are derived from pre-existing personal names or nicknames. Like many surnames that originated from nicknames, it exhibits a noteworthy characteristic of an early member of the family, making the name descriptive in nature. Therefore, Strunk doesn't specify the occupation, location, or patronymic of the initial bearer. It was typically used during Medieval times.

Strunk: Where does the name Strunk come from?

The last name Strunk is of German origin and is most commonly found in Germany and other countries of German influence such as Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, and parts of Poland. In the United States, the name is found in particular frequency among Pennsylvania Germans, most likely because the earliest Strunks were among the earliest group of immigrants to this area in the mid-17th century. According to data from the US Census Bureau, Strunk was the 1,463rd most common name in the United States in 2020, with the epicenter of concentrations being in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, Strunk was the 44th most common name found in Wisconsin and 109th most common in Indiana. Michigan had fewer than 500 people with the last name Strunk in 2020, but it does rank as the 26th most common name in the state. The name is likely to continue gaining popularity as Germans become more and more assimilated into the modern society.

Variations of the surname Strunk

The surname Strunk is an ancient German surname derived from the word 'Struncke', which means bristle or thick tuft of hair. It first appears in the records of Germany in 1304. Over the centuries, Strunk has been spelled and used as many variants, spellings, and surnames.

Variants of Strunk include Strunck, Strucnke, Strunke, and Struncke. Spellings of Strunk include the German spelling, Strunck, and the Dutch spelling, Sturken.

Other surnames developed from Strunk include Struncken, Strunckh, Strunkle, Struenk, Sturk, and Sturnck, among others. Strunk also gave rise to the Jaberg and Jeckisch variants: the Jaberg is a combination of Strunk and Jaberg, a Pfirt region in the Grand Duchy of Baden; the Jeckisch is a combination of Strunk and Jeckisch, an independent region near the upper Rhine.

It has also been noted that the Strunk surname and variants could have been derived from the German town of Strunk, situated in the small Thuringian province of Aschaffenburg in central Germany.

Strunk is a common surname and can be found in the United States, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Canada, and throughout Europe. Though some families have changed their spelling to Anglicized forms, most Strunks have retained the original German spelling of Strunck.

Famous people with the name Strunk

• William Strunk Jr.: William Strunk Jr. was a professor of English at Cornell University and is best known for being the original author of The Elements of Style, widely known as the archetypal English style guide.
• E.B. White: E.B. White was a poet, essayist, and author of works such as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He was the associate editor of Strunk's The Elements of Style and was responsible for revising, updating, and expanding its content.
• Emil Strunk: Emil Strunk was a German composer in the Romantic era. He composed works such as Piano Trio in A Minor and ‘Four Pieces from the Passions,’ which were deeply influenced by the musical styles of Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann.
• John Strunk: John Strunk was a professional boxer from the United States, who held the Illinois middleweight title from 1904 to 1905.
• Keith Strunk: Keith Strunk was a professional golfer from the United States who competed in the PGA Tour in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Charles H. Strunk: Charles H. Strunk was an influential music educator in the United States. He was a professor of music at Carnegie Mellon University, where he was instrumental in the development of the university's first music curriculum.
• Douglas Strunk: Douglas Strunk is a retired American football player who spent three seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts.
• Jack Strunk: Jack Strunk was an American business leader and philanthropist. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Pennsylvania Power & Light Company and was a major contributor to The Pennsylvania State University and other local universities.

Other surnames

StrunckStrunz