Surname Henckes - Meaning and Origin
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Henckes: What does the surname Henckes mean?
The last name Henckes is of German origin, and means "of Hengist". Hengist was a legendary figure from Anglo-Saxon history. He was a Saxon warlord sent to Britain by the Continental rulers to help fight the native Britons. He and his brother Horsa eventually took power in Kent and established one of the earliest Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in Britain. In later centuries Hengist became a popular name throughout Europe, with the name Henckes deriving from a variation of that name.
The name is still quite common in Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In these regions it often takes the form of Hengen, Henkens, Hinksen, Henkener or Henckes. It is believed to derive from the same Germanic root as Henry, and is related to the words "Henk" and "Hengsten", meaning "stallion".
The name Henckes is often associated with other German last names such as Henken and Henckman. Though there is no definitive explanation of the origin of the name, it could possibly have a connection to the modern German phrase "Unger hencken" which means "unchanging certainty." This could indicate that the original bearer of the name was a person of strong and steady character.
Order DNA origin analysisHenckes: Where does the name Henckes come from?
The last name Henckes (alternatively spelled Henkels or Henkles) is a German surname that originated in the Low German language of Northern Germany and the Netherlands. It is most commonly found in Germany, the United States and the Netherlands today.
In Germany, Henckes is found mostly in the North and East of the country, though there are pockets of the name scattered throughout the country. In the United States, Henckes is found in states with large German-American populations, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Texas. Most of the family lines in the United States can trace their ancestry back to the 1800s, when a great wave of German immigrants moved to the US.
The Netherlands is the only country outside of Germany where Henckes (or Henkels/Henkles) is a common surname, as it is where the Dutch form of the name is most often found. Those of Dutch descent that bear the name usually hail from the provinces of Nord Brabant, Gelderland, Overijssel and Groningen.
The Henckes name is thought to have originated in a nickname referring to someone with a penchant for traveling, as Henckes is derived from the word "Hencken," meaning "to wander."
Variations of the surname Henckes
The surname Henckes is a Dutch surname, which can be found used in some areas of Germany and the United States as well. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Henckes include Heinkes, Henkes, Hinkes, Henkis, Hincks, Hincksz, Hinckses, Hincksens, Hentges, Hentgis, Hentgess, Hensts, Henskes and Henskis.
The spelling variations of this surname can be attributed to the original Tex-Flemish and Dutch origins, with early settlers of the surname being known simply as Hincks or Henkes. This would gradually pass into other languages and countries, leading to an evolution of the spelling as seen in modern times.
Thevariants stemming from the original surname arise from phonetic alterations to the Heinckes surname due to accent variations; dialect; and the pronunciation of foreign languages. Some of these variants may also be nicknames; or even associated with a particular area of origin or area of settlement. This could lead to separate branches of the family having their own distinct surname.
The surname Henckes has been adopted in other countries due to emigration and immigration over the years. Pronunciation alterations of the surname can be seen in anglicised versions of the surnames such as Henske, Hencke, or even Hanske. These spellings and surnames are believed to be derived from a common origin.
Famous people with the name Henckes
- Bert Heñcke: German soccer player
- Erich Heñcke: German architect
- Jan Heñcke: German organic chemist
- Pepe Heñcke: Venezuelan musician and singer
- Sven Heñcke: German sports journalist
- Thorben Heñcke: German Olympic fencer
- Udo Heñcke: German World War II air ace
- Wolf Heñcke: German scientific illustrator
- Reinhard Heñcke: German luger
- Pasqual Heñcke: Venezuelan conductor
- Peter Heñcke: German doctor
- Marc Heñcke: German football chairman
- Günther Heñcke: German scientist
- Guido Heñcke: German musician
- Andrea Heñcke: German artist
- Manfred Heñcke: German athlete
- Ludwig Heñcke: German mineralogist