Surname Gohrke - Meaning and Origin
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Gohrke: What does the surname Gohrke mean?
Gohrke is a surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German gorce, meaning ‘cold’. Commonly found in Northern Central-West Germany, its variants include Goercken, Goerck, Goerke, and Gohrke. It is often associated with the Pomeranian region; northwest of Berlin.
The surname is believed to have originated among local German farmers, who often took up the surname of their geographical birthplace. In this case, the region is thought to be the village of Golra, located just east of Czarnikow in Pomerania, and the name is derived from the local dialect’s pronunciation of “Goldorii”, meaning the ‘cold village’.
A less popular, yet still valid theory is that the name is derived from the Old High German word goruoch, which means ‘man’; therefore, Gohrke could mean ‘son of the man’.
Alternative spellings of the surname Gohrke may also be found in other countries, usually with slight variations in meaning. In other German-speaking nations, such as Austria, the meaning of the surname is often associated with the origin of the surname holder’s ancestors.
Due to the multiplicity of potential meanings and origins, the surname Gohrke can carry slightly different inferences, depending on the region from which it originates. As a result, it can be difficult to accurately determine the precise meaning of the surname without further research.
Order DNA origin analysisGohrke: Where does the name Gohrke come from?
The last name Gohrke is most commonly found in Germany today. It is mostly associated with the state of Brandenburg in particular, and is also found in a few other surrounding areas, like East and West Prussia, Bavaria, and Silesia. The name is derived from a Germanic personal name, Görke or Göhrke, which includes elements meaning “spear” and “edge”. Locally, the name can be found written as Görke, Goerke, Goercken, Gohrke, Göhrke, Göhrcke, Gohrcke, Göhrcken, Gohrcken, and Göhrki.
The surname has been around since the Medieval period, and is among the earliest recorded of German surnames. The earliest recording of the name dates back to 1214, when Henricus Gohrke was a priest in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In the documents of the time, the surname is listed with many spellings, such as Goreke and Gorke. Later, when Germans began immigrating to America in the 1600s, the surname was adapted to suit American pronunciation system, becoming Gohrke.
Today, Gohrke is a relatively common surname in Germany, with records showing that many people with this name still live in Brandenburg in particular. The name is far less common in other countries, due to the fact that other nations don’t typically spell or pronounce the name in the same manner. However, in countries where German immigrants settled, such as the United States, the name can be found sporadically.
Variations of the surname Gohrke
Gohrke is a German surname with several variants, spellings and related surnames derived from the same origin. The most common variants are Gorke, Gohr, Goehre, Göhrke and Göhre.
Gohrke is an occupational surname of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “Göhr” or “Göwer”, meaning a worker or peasant. It was a surname given to people who worked on farms, a career often shared by many families. The Gohrke surname can be found in Germany, Austria, Prussia and around the world as families have emigrated from these regions over the centuries.
Gorke is the most common variant of Gohrke, appearing quite frequently in Germany, Austria and Prussia. Like Gohrke, Gorke is derived from the Middle High German word “Göhr” or “Göwer”, and is an occupational surname denoting farmers or peasants.
Goehre and Goehre are Anglicized variants of Gohrke, derived from the Middle High German word “Göhre”, meaning a son or male relative of a farmer. The Goehre spelling is quite popular in the United States, with very few cases in other countries.
Göhrke and Göhre are two more variants of the Gohrke surname, both derived from the Middle High German word “Göhr” or “Göwer”, a surname used to describe farmers or peasants. These two variants are more common in Germany, Austria, Prussia and other countries with links to Germany’s former empire.
Related surnames of Gohrke are Gohrman, Goehner, Goehring, Goering and Goehler. All these surnames are derived from the same occupational origin, describing people who work on farms.
Famous people with the name Gohrke
- Elke Gohrke: German professional ice skater and three-time National champion.
- Maurice Gohrke: German historian and Christian theologian.
- Bernd Gohrke: German actor known for his roles in TV shows such as Unemployed Professors and Tatort.
- Ernst Gohrke: German athlete and winner of the silver medal in the Men's 400m (freestyle) at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki. 5.Therese Gohrke: German artist and sculptor whose works are featured in various art galleries and exhibitions.
- Volker Gohrke: German businessman and founder of the Gohrke Group, a large media and publishing company.
- Sabine Gohrke: German artist and illustrator known for her work in film and literature.
- Maria Gohrke: German swimmer and Olympian who represented West Germany at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.
- Günter Gohrke: German chemist and professor known for his work in the field of bio-polymer research.
- Helmut Gohrke: Austrian sociologist and university professor who is known for his studies on globalization and social change.