Surname Harmke - Meaning and Origin
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Harmke: What does the surname Harmke mean?
The last name Harmke is a German patronymic surname, which means that it was usually given to the son of a man named Harm. This surname is fairly uncommon, and mainly found in Northern Germany. The origin of the name is Middle Low German, and is thought to have derived from the name Harme, meaning “courage” or “strength.”
In old German, Harme or Harmke was also used as a nickname to indicate a strong and brave man, as in the expression 'ein kiene Harmke'. The name Harmke might refer to a person who was sharp-witted, daring, or strict in nature. Examples of variations of this name include Harmkes, Harmkens, and Harmkens.
Today, people with the last name Harmke may be proud that they carry a name with such a noble connotation. As a testament to Germany's past, its descendant holders may find gratitude in the knowledge that their ancestors were known for their strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisHarmke: Where does the name Harmke come from?
The last name Harmke is most common in Germany, with most living in the south of the country. According to official records, there are approximately 2,100 people with the Harmke surname in Germany.
Harmke is also an uncommon surname in other European counties, with less than 200 people living in France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands combined.
Outside of Europe, the Harmke surname is quite rare. In the United States, only 28 people who use the Harmke surname are known to exist, mostly concentrated in Minnesota and California. Australia is also home to a few dozen Harmkes, and they are all concentrated in Western Australia.
The prestige and population associated with the Harmke name has fluctuated over time. In Germany, the name has been around for more than five centuries. Records suggest the first person with the Harmke name lived in the city of Bremen around 1520.
The Harmke surname has never been extremely popular, as other surnames such as Bauer, Berger, and Schmidt appear to have been more common at the time of creation. This lack of popularity, often referred to as small population size, has likely contributed to the rarity of the name today.
Variations of the surname Harmke
Harmke is a Dutch surname with Dutch spelling variations such as Harmeke, Harmekes, Harmekes, and Harmkes. The Low German spelling is Harmeke and/or Harmekel. In the United States, this surname is often found spelled as Harmke, Harmske, Harmsky, and Harper.
Related surnames include Harmsen, Harms, Harmes, Harmeijer, Harmeling, Harmmeiger, Harminck, Hermen, Herman, Hermsen, Herms, Hermeijer, Hermelink, Hermeiger, and Herminck. These are all surnames of the same origin which are derived from a personal nickname of the original bearer "Harminck". The Old German "harme" meaning "law, faith, word" is generally considered to be the source of this nickname. Therefore, all of these surname spellings communicate the idea of a law-abiding, faithful person.
Another variant of the Harmke surname is Harmse. This surname is also derived from "Harminck," but it has a distinct surname origin. In this case, it has its roots in the phrase "vader-armse," which means "poor father," and was often given to people who needed assistance.
Finally, there is an English spelling of the Harmke surname; Harmack. This is derived from the same Old German "harme" meaning "law, faith, word," but it has been anglicized for use in English speaking countries.
Overall, Harmke is a Dutch surname with many spelling variations depending on where in the world someone is from. In addition to the Dutch spelling Harmke, variations include Harmeke, Harmekes, Harmekes, Harmkes, Harmekel, Harmse, Harmske, Harmsky, Harper, Harmsen, Harms, and Harmes, as well as the English spelling Harmack. All of these surnames originate from the same Old German phrase meaning "law, faith, word," and often reflect a view of the law-abiding, faithful individual.
Famous people with the name Harmke
- Jeff Harmke: Jeff Harmke is a professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour from 1987 to 2004. He is best known for winning two PGA Tour events, the 1995 Greater Milwaukee Open and the 2002 Shell Houston Open.
- Joost Harmke: Joost Harmke is a retired Dutch professional footballer who played midfielder for Willem II in the Netherlands top league, the Eredivisie, and made nine appearances for the senior Dutch national team.
- Hermann Harmke: Hermann Harmke was a German mathematician who specialized in the area of number theory and algebra. He was the author of several books and papers on mathematical topics and was the founding editor of the journal Archiv der Mathematik.
- Erich Harmke: Erich Harmke was a German landscape artist and illustrator who specialized in nature scenes, particularly those from forests and beaches.
- Jan Harmke: Jan Harmke was a Dutch composer and conductor who wrote some 30 symphonies and several operas. He was a professor of harmony at the Royal School of Music in The Hague.
- Boudewijn Harmke: Boudewijn Harmke was a Dutch actor who appeared in the Dutch feature film 'Au Pair' and the Dutch TV show 'Goudweg'.
- Olga Harmke: Olga Harmke was a Dutch abstract artist who worked chiefly with oil paints and collage. Several of her paintings were exhibited in various museums and galleries throughout Catalonia.