Surname Pankrath - Meaning and Origin
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Pankrath: What does the surname Pankrath mean?
The last name Pankrath is of German origin and is derived from old German words. The first part of the name is 'Pan', which is derived from the old German word for 'pound' or 'pond'. The second part of the name is 'krath', which means 'overlord' or 'lord of the manor'. The literal translation of the name is 'Lord of the Pound'.
Unsurprisingly, then, the name was likely borne by people who were landowners and aristocrats, most likely in Germany. It is likely that those with the surname derived their wealth from owning or managing ponds, rivers, or other bodies of water.
It is possible that those with the last name Pankrath descended from a noble family with connections to the term 'Lord of the Pound'. As noble families were often involved in trade, it is also possible that the first bearers of the surname had some connection to trade or water transportation.
The name Pankrath is still found in Germany and in areas of Europe where German immigrants moved to in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also people with the surname living in the United States, Canada, and Australia, likely as a result of emigration from the original homeland.
Order DNA origin analysisPankrath: Where does the name Pankrath come from?
The surname Pankrath is today most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the Bundesland (state) of Bavaria which is the southernmost state of the country.
The origin of the surname Pankrath is believed to go back to the medieval times, although the exact etymology of the name is not known. It is possible that the name originated from the German word 'franc', which means free. In German, ‘pancker’ may refer to a free person or can also mean a peasant who is free from bondage.
The Pankrath family has strong roots in the Bavarian region and can be found in many rural towns and villages in and around the region. According to records, the largest concentration of Pankraths is in the German town of Kitzingen, with around 400 residents.
The surname can also be found in other parts of Germany. For instance, there is a sizeable concentration of Pankraths in the city of Stuttgart. There are also a significant number of people with the name in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well, due to European Migration in the 19th century.
The name Pankrath is very rare today, and it is estimated that there are only around 5,000 people bearing the name in the world.
Variations of the surname Pankrath
The surname Pankrath has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the most common variants of the surname include Pankrath, Pancratz, Pankratz, Pankratz, Pankrathz, Pankartz and Pankrat. These variants are mainly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries.
In addition to these German spellings, the surname is also spelled Pankraz in Austria and the Czech Republic, Pancrad in the Netherlands, Pancraat in Flanders and Belgium, and Pancras in France. The origin of these variant spellings is probably from the Middle High German words “pancrac” or “pancrad,” meaning “fighter.”
The surnames that are believed to be related to the name Pankrath include Pankratz, Pantzke, Pantke, Pentke, Panke, and Vanke. These surnames are related to the name Pankrath in the sense that they are all derived from the same root, but they are spelled differently because they originated in different parts of Europe.
Overall, the surname Pankrath is quite an old surname with several variants and spellings, as well as related surnames. The surname is primarily rooted in Germany and has spread in many different countries, likely due to migration over time.
Famous people with the name Pankrath
- Jens Pankrath: Jens Pankrath is a German current affairs journalist who is best known for his work on Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcast service.
- Christopher Pankrath: Christopher Pankrath is a German former footballer who played for Eintracht Frankfurt from 2000-2008.
- Christian Pankrath: Christian Pankrath is a German fitness professional and a former participant in the Chistian Pankrath TV Show, a German fitness reality show.
- Bartholomew Pankrath: Bartholomew Pankrath is a German entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder and CEO of Finleap, a Berlin-based fintech company.
- Max Pankrath: Max Pankrath is a German football manager and former player who most recently managed German football team TSV Schott Mainz.
- Annette Pankrath: Annette Pankrath is a German professor of political science at the University of Kassel, she is the author of books on gender studies, political science and theory.
- Norbert Pankrath: Norbert Pankrath is a German politician who has served as a member of the Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party since 2017.
- Karin Pankrath: Karin Pankrath is a German artist who creates abstract drawings and oil paintings.
- Helene Pankrath: Helene Pankrath is a German classical pianist and professor of music at the University of Augsburg.