Surname Duerks - Meaning and Origin
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Duerks: What does the surname Duerks mean?
The origin of the surname Duerks is Germanic. The name is derived from the Old Germanic personal name “Durek”, which is derived from the Old Germanic word “durich”, meaning “strong”. The know origins of the name extend back to the early medieval period in what is now Germany, where it was borne by a large noble family in the Rhineland.
The spelling of the name, and its variants, has been in flux over the last millennium due to different standards being used at different times in different regions, as well as an evolution of the language.
It is thought that it could have originated with someone of remarkable strength or it could also indicate an ancestral profession, such as a blacksmith.
The surname itself probably became established in Germany in the post-medieval period and subsequently spread throughout Europe, into North America when many German immigrants arrived in the nineteenth century. More recently, the surname has become quite a unique and distinct name in Germany itself and can be found in Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Today, the surname continues to be most commonly associated with the Germanic ethnic group and is often associated with strength, courage, resilience, and fortitude and a respect for the traditions of the past.
Order DNA origin analysisDuerks: Where does the name Duerks come from?
The last name Duerks is most commonly found today in Germany. According to Geogen, a geneology website, families withthe last name Duerks can be found mainly in the states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Bavaria, and Mecklenburg.
In Hamburg, the Duerks family has the highest known concentration. Around one hundred and twenty eight people with this last name currently live in this area and their ancestors first originated from here. In Lower Saxony, around seventy two people share this surname. The North Rhine-Westphalia region contains around sixty six people with the Duerks name and this is believed to cover the largest area geographically.
Schleswig-Holstein region also has a high population of people with this name, around forty five to be exact. In Saxony, around twenty four individuals living in the area carry this name while Bavaria is believed to have twenty three people with the last name Duerks. Lastly, the smallest population of Duerks is found in the Mecklenburg region, with only around three families in the area that carry this last name.
The amount of people with the Duerks name in these areas has remained constant throughout the years and does not appear to have decreased any over time. This last name appears to be quite common in Germany, though it is not as widespread as some other surnames in this country.
Variations of the surname Duerks
The spelling and variant spellings of the surname Duerks are:
Duerksen, Durks, Durksen, Dorks, Dorksen, Durk, Durken.
The surname Duerks is of Dutch and Low German origin, and is derived from the personal name Durk. The name would have originally denoted a person who was the son of Durk. The surname can also be spelled 'Duerken', and the alternative English spellings of the surname may include Duricks, Durkes and Dorks.
The surname may also have stemmed from a place name, derived from the old Dutch word for ‘moonlight’. It is likely that the surname Duerks began to appear in regions of Germany, The Netherlands and North America during the 1800s.
The surname may also be phonetically rendered as ‘de ORK’ in regions of The Netherlands, which could also have lead to the surname's various spellings. It is also possible that the surname has derived from a place-name in The Netherlands, and could have been in use as early as the 12th century.
In regions of Germany, the surname may appear as ‘der ATZEN’. Variants of the surname may also exist in Germany in the form of ‘Dürksen’, ‘Duerkmann’, and ‘Durks’.
Surnames bearing the same origin as Duerks include Orke, Oerke, Orken, Orcken, Oertzen, Ortzman and Ortzmann.
Today, variants of the surname Duerks can be found in regions of The Netherlands, Germany and North America.
Famous people with the name Duerks
- John Duerksen: Former Holstein/Friesian dairy cattle breeder, breeder of champion show cattle, and Holstein Friesian Cattle Society President.
- Arnold Duerksen: Formerly a distinguished farmer and cattleman in Kansas.
- Silas Duerksen: Founder of the Doppelarm Dairy Company in Kansas.
- Charles Duerksen: Famed Kansas cattle breeder and rancher.
- Jep Duerkse: Former president of the National Holstein Friesian Association.
- Steve Duerksen: Former Kansas state champion calf roper.
- Loren Duerksen: Iowa State Senator and current chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party.
- Martha Duerksen: Famed Kansas schoolteacher and winner of the 2003 Kansas Teacher of the Year Award.
- Esther Duerksen: Author of numerous books, including 'Shift Your World'.
- Justin Duerksen: Canadian ice hockey forward, who played for the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League.