Surname Henken - Meaning and Origin
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Henken: What does the surname Henken mean?
The surname Henken is an occupational surname derived from the ancient Dutch language. The word ‘Henken’ means ‘one who hangs or hooks’. This could have referred to individuals that worked as specialized mechanics, hangmen, sail hoisters, or even hangmen, in the use of gallows and nooses. This Dutch surname was likely derived from the Old Germanic word ‘haccon’, meaning ‘to hang’.
The history of the Henken surname is fascinating. Its first known records appear in 1204 in the region of Brabant, Netherlands. It was then found in a list of ‘hangers’ in the deeds of a household in the city of Amsterdam. Through the centuries, the name has been linked to many notable families and individuals, including the House of Orange, once the royal house of The Netherlands, and the artist Arent Henken (1629-1689).
The Henken surname has spread throughout Europe and beyond, and is still found today in many places throughout Europe, America, Australia, and beyond. Throughout its history, the name has been consistently used to refer to individuals with a trade or skill in hanging and hoisting, or the tools associated with such tasks.
Order DNA origin analysisHenken: Where does the name Henken come from?
The last name Henken is most commonly found in Northern Europe, particularly within the Netherlands, and to a lesser extent, Germany and Scandinavia. This is because Henken is a Dutch patronymic name stemming from the personal name Henrik, which derives from the ancient Germanic personal name ‘Heimirīk'. Records of the name Henken in the Netherlands dates back to the 16th century and is thought to originally have been used as a name in the Friesland province, although it has since spread further south. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 people worldwide with the Henken surname reside primarily in the Netherlands and Germany, with smaller numbers in other parts of Northern Europe and the US.
Variations of the surname Henken
The Henken surname is of Dutch origin, and is linked to the word hinken, meaning "to limp" in Dutch. The surname has a variety of variants,spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Common variants of Henken include Hinken, Henkens, Hencken, Hincke, Henck, and Hincks. There are also spellings such as Hanken, Hankens, Hancken, Hanke, Hanck, and Hanks. Other surnames associated with the Henken surname include Van Den Henken, Den Henken, Von Henken, Von Henkenberg, Henkemeyer, Hinke, Heintzen, Heintzken, Hincken, Hincks, Hinck, and Hennces.
The Henken surname can be found internationally and is particularly common in the Netherlands. Due to the numerous variations and spellings of this Germanic surname, it is found in countries all over the world with different spellings. In Holland, it is commonly found as Henken, while in Germany it is more commonly spelled as Hencken.
Regardless of its spelling, the Henken surname is an interesting piece of family history that offers insight into the lives of those who bear it. Its numerous spellings and similar surnames have helped to spread the legacy of the Henken name throughout the world.
Famous people with the name Henken
- Gerrit Henken: Former Dutch footballer, played for clubs including NEC, SC Heerenveen and FC Twente.
- Sylvia Henken: Award-winning American Renaissance flutist, music educator and scholar.
- Kevin Henken: American jazz pianist and composer.
- Ben Henken: American writer, journalist, editor, and publisher.
- Asger Henken: Danish international footballer who plays for Lyngby Boldklub.
- Helen O’Neal Henken: American professional golfer.
- Jurgen Henken: Belgian swimmer who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Natasa Henken: Slovenian cross-country skier who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Alexander Henken: German rower who won a silver medal in the men’s coxless pair at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Frederik Henken: Dutch politician, entrepreneur and current Mayor of Delft.