Surname Handtke - Meaning and Origin
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Handtke: What does the surname Handtke mean?
The German surname Handtke is derived from an old medieval personal name or nickname. It most likely originated from the old German given names ‘Hantko’ or ‘Hantwich’, both forms of Hanno, which can mean ‘God is gracious’ or ‘God is merciful’. The ending ‘-ke’ or ‘-kein’ is a diminutive form of the given name and would have been added to determine who was being referred to.
The surname Handtke is particularly prevalent around the western cities of Germany, especially in the region close to the borders of Poland and the North Sea. It is particularly common in the northern states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein and is derived from the personal name Hanno or Johann and the diminutive form ‘-ke’.
In some cases, the surname Handtke may refer to descendants from Hantke, which is an alternate form of the surname originating from a regional dialect in East Frisia and North Germany. Hantke is derived from a Frisian nickname, meaning a 'fox's tail' although this origin is not certain.
One notable bearer of the surname is Paul Handtke, a German film director and screenwriter, born in 1949. Throughout his long and successful career, Handtke has written and directed several films, including the 2000 World War II dramailly ‘Katzelmacher’.
In conclusion, the surname Handtke is derived from the old German given names ‘Hantko’ or ‘Hantwich’, both forms of Hanno, and the diminutive ‘-ke’ ending. The surname is particularly common in the northern states of Germany and, in some cases, could refer to descendants of the regional dialect Frisian surname ‘Hantke’. One notable bearer of the surname is Paul Handtke, a German film director and screenwriter.
Order DNA origin analysisHandtke: Where does the name Handtke come from?
The last name Handtke is most common in parts of Germany, particularly in several of the former eastern German provinces (like Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt). It is also relatively common in Austria and Switzerland, as well as some other parts of Europe. The Handtke surname is uncommon in the United States; the last name Handtke does not appear in the current top 1000 last names in the US, although it appears in some ancient records from the early to mid-1800s. The most recent concentration of people bearing the name Handtke is in Germany and Austria.
In Germany, the name Handtke is most heavily found in the town of Meßlingen in the Bavarian region. Meßlingen was one of the main centers of early Handtke migration from eastern Europe. The peak of Handtke distribution in Germany was seen between 1940 and 1961, when over 124,000 people bore the name.
In Austria, Handtke is most commonly found in the state of Carinthia, where approximately 3% of the population carries the Handtke name. The highest concentration of Handtke in Austria is in the city of Klagenfurt.
Switzerland has a fairly large number of Handtke inhabitants, especially in the canton of Valais.
Finally, there are also small concentrations of Handtke in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and even Africa.
Variations of the surname Handtke
Handtke is a surname of German origin. Variants, spellings and other surnames that share the same root as Handtke include Handke, Handt, Handtek, Handek, Handtke, Handeck, Hantke, Hantke, Handtken, Handtkin, Handtkopf, Handtker, Handtken, Handtkuhl, Handteck, Handter, Handkeck, Handecke, Handskey, Handbacks, Handbank and Handböck.
The root of the Handtke surname is derived from the German word ‘Handtke’ which means "handkerchief," "small bag," or "sack." This German root word in turn derives from the Middle High German “handtel”.
It is likely that the name was originally borne by people who crafted or sold small bags, sacks, and handkerchiefs, and that the name eventually became associated with the craftspeople or traders who made and sold them.
In some cases, these surnames may also have originated as occupational surnames given to individuals who did odd jobs in households. For instance, the root word of Handtke in Middle High German also means "servant" or even "one who works for an hour or two." It is believed that individuals who did odd jobs in households on a short-term basis eventually adopted the name as an occupational surname.
The surname Handtke is most common in Germany and is also found in Austria, Poland and many other European countries.
Famous people with the name Handtke
- Alexander Handtke: Prominent German football player and coach born in 1973.
- Juanita Handtke: Renowned Mexican painter and artist living in Arizona.
- Joe Handtke: Retired American baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1980s.
- Wiebke Handtke: German professor of Accounting specializing in capital markets research.
- Seann Handtke: Canadian figure skater who has competed in the Olympic games.
- Wilma Handtke: German curler who has been competing at a professional level since the late 90s.
- Antonia Handtke: Award-winning German film director best known for her work in arthouse films.
- Arno Handtke: Austrian keyboardist, composer and producer who has been linked to the electronic music scene since the early 2000s.
- Ulrich Handtke: German psychotherapist and author of the acclaimed book “Pleasure is Risky Business”.
- Bill Handtke: Popular American actor who has appeared in feature films and television shows.