Surname Henkle - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Henkle: What does the surname Henkle mean?
Henkle is a patronymic surname of German origin. It is derived from "Heinrich", a popular first name during the Middle Ages in Germany. "Heinrich" originates from the Old High German "Haganrich" which is a compound of "hagan" meaning enclosure or fence, symbolizing safety and protection, and "rich" meaning ruler. Therefore, the name implies a protector or a safe ruler. Variations of this surname include Henckel, Henkel, Hinkle, Hinkel, and Heinkel among others. Given the popularity of the name, the Henkle surname might have originated in multiple locations independently, therefore it does not relate to a specific geographic area within Germany. Like many other last names that were based on a popular name, it was likely adopted by people when laws were introduced requiring the use of a family surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHenkle: Where does the name Henkle come from?
The surname Henkle is of German origin, possibly derived from the personal name Heinrich, or from the German word "hinkel", which means "chicken", indicating that the original bearers of the name could have been chicken breeders. Over time, it developed various spelling forms including Henkel, Hinkel, Hinckel, and Henkle. It first appeared in Germany, where the family was anciently seated in Hessen.
Today, the surname is scattered around the globe, most likely due to migration and the passing of generations, but it’s particularly common in the United States. After German emigration to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, many families with the surname Henkle settled in states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. It's also found, somewhat less frequently, in Germany, Canada, and Australia among other countries. As with other surnames, its presence in a particular region can indicate past migration patterns or historical events that led to the family's dispersion. It is less common in non-English speaking countries and non-European countries, reflecting the German and American origins of the name.
Variations of the surname Henkle
The surname Henkle has different spelling variations and similar surnames that could have originated from the same root. Some common spelling variants include Henkel, Henckel, Hinkle, Hinkel, and Henkle.
The name is of German origin and it is thought to derive from a pet form of Heinrich, a personal name that became very popular in Germany due to the fame of the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich I, and later the German king and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Heinrich II.
Surnames of the same origin could include Heinrich, Heinrick, Hendrick, Hein, Heins, Heinz, Heintz and Henricks. While these names may have originated from the same given name, it should be noted that surnames developed independently in various regions and families which may lead to different variations and origins even for similar surnames. Each of these names may have their own unique historical development and variant forms.
Another possibility is that the name has an occupational origin, coming from the High German word "henkel" meaning handle, making this a metonymic occupational name for a maker of handles, particularly bucket handles.
Famous people with the name Henkle
There doesn't appear to be many famous people with the last name Henkle. One notable person is Jeff Henkle, a former American football coach in the National Football League and the United Football League, as well as colleges. Additionally, Judith Henkle is a notable professional figure in the healthcare industry. It's important to note that the spelling variations of this surname might include Henkel, Hinkle, or Henckel, which are more common and associated with different famous people. For instance, Fritz Henkel, a German businessman and founder of the Henkel company. Similarly, David Hinkle is a noted video game journalist.