Surname Hankemeyer - Meaning and Origin

Hankemeyer: What does the surname Hankemeyer mean?

The last name Hankemeyer is of German origin and was originally used to refer to a person with strong arms, literally translated as "Hanke" being a thick rope and "meyer" referring to someone in charge. Over time the name evolved to take on a few variations such as Hankemeier, Hannkemeyer, Handkemeyer and Hankemayer.

The original spelling, Hankemeyer, is a combination of two German words, Hanke, meaning grip or grasp, and Meyer, which translates to the master of someone or something. Therefore, put together the name Hankemeyer means a person who has the strength to hold or grasp something tightly.

The Hankemeyer surname is thought to date back to the 15th century in Germany and is derived from the ancient German Kugel family. Kugel eventually evolved to the spelling Haunke and over time the name changed to many variations, including Hankemeyer.

The name was thought to be predominantly found in the area of North-western Germany in the early 19th century, in areas like Rhineland and Westphalia, and is still quite a popular name in this part of the world today.

The name Hankemeyer can still be found in various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is often seen spelled as Hankemeier and Hannkemeyer.

Hankemeyer: Where does the name Hankemeyer come from?

The name Hankemeyer is a relatively uncommon name with its origins in Germany. Its presence is mostly seen in the Netherlands, where it is one of the most common Dutch surnames. Hankemeyer has also spread to various other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, although the prevalence of the name is not as high as it is in the Netherlands.

Within the United States, Hankemeyer is most common in Illinois and Wisconsin, both of which were among some of the first states to be settled by German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to these two states, New York and Ohio also have a substantial population of Hankemeyers. There is a relatively small population in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, which is likely a result of migration from the more heavily populated states.

Today, the Hankemeyer surname is also found in at least five countries in Europe, with the concentration being the lowest in the United Kingdom, where it is quite uncommon. There are also notable populations of Hankemeyers in France, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg. Generally speaking, however, the most significant concentration of this name is still located in the Netherlands, where it remains fairly common.

Variations of the surname Hankemeyer

The surname Hankemeyer is believed to have originated from Germany. It is a German locational name, deriving from the place-name Hankemoor, located in the district of Heidekreis, Lower Saxony. Hankemeyer is also known by its variants Hankmeyer, Hankemejer, Hankemier, and Hankemeier.

The variants of this surname provide some insight to its evolution over time. In genealogical records during the 1600s, the surname was spelled as Hankemeyer or Hankmar depending on the region it was recorded in. This could suggest that during the returning migration of Germans from the Netherlands to Germany, the spelling was influenced by Dutch phonological rules.

The eldest or earliest known example of the Hankemeyer surname occurrence can be dated back to the point of emigration, Oldenburg, Germany. The earliest recorded mention was found in a document of 1545, in which Johannes Hankemeieer (of Oldenburg) settled in nearby Brockel.

Various spellings of this name are mostly due to the linguistic, cultural and political consequences of the numerous boundary changes that took place in central and northern Europe throughout the Middle Ages. Subsequently, many variants of the Hankemeyer surname emerged in the German regions. Over time, it could be that spelling were adapted to match a person’s regional dialect or accent, or that letters were added or removed when scribes transcribed names from one language to another, such as from Old or Middle High German into modern German.

By the 19th century, Hankemeyer had become firmly established as an average-sized German surname. Other surnames, including Hankermeyer, Hunkermeyer, Hackermeyer, and Hankmeyer are closely related to Hankemeyer and are derived from the same Old German roots.

Famous people with the name Hankemeyer

• Georges Hankemeyer: goalkeeper for the Dutch football team Sparta Rotterdam.
• Alexander Hankemeyer: German entrepreneur.
• David Hankemeyer: German Olympic bobsledder.
• Gabriele Hankemeyer: German dressage rider.
• Bernard Hankemeyer: Dutch football player.
• Carol Hankemeyer: American tennis player.
• Emil Hankemeyer: German astronomer and mathematician.
• Matthew Hankemeyer: American business executive.
• Ferdinand Hankemeyer: German radio and television entertainer.
• Tineke Hankemeyer: Dutch politician.
• Petra Hankemeyer: German model and television actress.
• Max Hankemeyer: Dutch judge and legal scholar.
• Marie-Louise Hankemeyer: German biochemistry and biophysics researcher.
• Albert Hankemeyer: American baseball player.
• Claire Hankemeyer: American artist.
• Willard Hankemeyer: American football coach.
• Rutger Hankemeyer: Dutch writer.
• Joachim Hankemeyer: German actor and theatre director.
• Thomas Hankemeyer: American politician.
• Heinz Hankemeyer: German former footballer and coach.

Other surnames

Hankemeier