Surname Henkenmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Henkenmeier: What does the surname Henkenmeier mean?
The last name Henkenmeier is of German origin. Derived from a personal name, it is a patronymic surname that translates as "son of Henken". Henken, in turn, is a German variant of the name Johannes, a biblical name meaning "Yahweh is gracious".
The Henkenmeiers have a long history, with its earliest recorded instance being a 1367 record of a man by the name of Jürgen Henkenmeie as a witness to deceased properties. Over time, the Henkenmeiers spread throughout Germany, and their name can now be found in areas all over the country.
The Henkenmeiers are a proud and close-knit German family. This is evidenced by the number of organizations that have been established worldwide related to the name. Many of these organizations provide a platform for Henkenmeier descendants to connect with each other, to learn about their shared heritage, and to stay in touch with family and friends near and far.
The Henkenmeier surname is a reminder of the strong family bonds that have connected the Henkenmeier descendants for centuries— evidence of the resilience of a proud German family. To many, the name Henkenmeier is synonymous with love, loyalty, and family.
Order DNA origin analysisHenkenmeier: Where does the name Henkenmeier come from?
The last name Henkenmeier is most commonly found today in Germany. This family name originates from Germany and is of German origin. It has been documented to date back to the 13th century and is traditionally found in the state of Bavaria, located in the southeastern region of the country.
The name Henkenmeier means essentially ‘home of the children of Henk’. It is believed that it derives from the personal name Henk, a short form of the German given names Heinrich and Heinz, which is derived from the Germanic element 'Heimrich', which means “dominion” or “rule”.
The Henkenmeier family is well established across Germany, with multiple branches still in place today. Additionally, the name Henkenmeier is also quite common in the US and Canada, as many people emigrated from Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Various members of the Henkenmeier family have become prominent in German history, particularly during the late 1700s and 1800s. Notable members include Heinrich Henkenmeier, a German pastor and theologian; Johann Peter Henkenmeier, a German civil engineer; and Jakob Henkenmeier, a businessman and politician from Munich.
The name Henkenmeier is still widely used today, as many descendants of the German Henkenmeiers still reside in the country and other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Henkenmeier
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Henkenmeier are as follows:
Henkenmeir, Henkenmayer, Henkenmair, Henkenmajer, Henkenmeyar, Henkenmijer, Henkenmejer, Henkenmeiar, Henkenmeyer, Henkenmeyyar, Henkenmyer, Hentkenmayer, Henkenmoler, and Henkenmoeller.
The origin of this surname is German, deriving from the words ‘Henne’, meaning ‘hen’, and ‘Meier’, which is essentially an old name for the word ‘Mayor’. Put together, it translates to ‘hen mayor’, which is a humorous and somewhat derogatory term for a man of wealth or status given to him through inheritance.
The majority of people with this surname live in Germany and Austria, but it can also be found in several other countries, including the United States and Canada. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the Midwest, especially Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Despite the large number of existing variants and spellings of this surname, all deriving from the same root words as Henkenmeier, it is still considered one of the rarest surnames in the world. This, however, has not stopped many people from proudly claiming it as their own. The slight variations make it even more unique and give those who bear the name a bit of adventure.
Famous people with the name Henkenmeier
- Joe Henkenmeier: prominent photographer
- Günther Henkenmeier: German video game designer
- George Henkenmeier: former member of the Kansas State House of Representatives
- William Henkenmeier: founder of the film production company Henkenmeier Film Productions
- Carl Henkenmeier: German politician
- Mike Henkenmeier: American college basketball coach
- Judy Henkenmeier: Australian wrestling champion
- David Henkenmeier: American actor and comedian
- Andro Henkenmeier: Swiss artist
- Snake Henkenmeier: American singer-songwriter