Surname Lemkens - Meaning and Origin
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Lemkens: What does the surname Lemkens mean?
The last name Lemkens is mainly found in Dutch-speaking areas, particularly in The Netherlands and Belgium. The name has a patronymic origin, derived from the name "Lemke," which is an old German name meaning “He who is brave.” It was adopted by Dutch settlers in The Netherlands as a way of distinguishing individuals from one another.
The name Lemkens appears in records as early as the 15th century. A Hans Lemken appears as a Damstown inhabitant in the Utrecht in 1468 and a Jan Lemkens was registered as a squire in 1556 in Amsterdam. Out of the Netherlands, the Lemkens name can be discovered in German, Czech and Russian records. Records in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan show descendants of Dutch settlers using this very same name after immigration in the late 19th century.
Today, the Lemkens family is still scattered around Dutch, Belgian, and German-speaking areas. While people bearing this last name can be found in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, like most all Dutch-derived surnames, the name has spread over the centuries to other places, such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Those with the Lemkens name are said to be reliable and determined. They have a strong sense of community and are loyal to their families and friends.
Order DNA origin analysisLemkens: Where does the name Lemkens come from?
The last name Lemkens is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium today.
The Dutch spelling for the surname is Lemkens, while the Belgian spelling is Lemkin. It is likely that all the Lemkens are descended from the same original ancestor. In the Netherlands, the Lemkens can be found in the northern provinces of Noord-Brabant, Limburg and Zeeland. In Belgium, the surname is mainly present in the provinces of Flanders and Brussels.
In the early 20th century, many Lemkens emigrated from the Netherlands and Belgium to the United States, Australia, Canada, and other areas around the world. Many of these immigrants kept their original surname, Lemkens, while others adopted different variations such as Lombkins or Lemond.
At present, there is an online Lemkens community, which consists of the descendants of the original Lemkens family. It is a relatively small community, but the members remain in contact and share their family history, heritage, and stories.
The Lemkens surname is still seen in all parts of the world today. However, because of its relatively small size, it is not as common as other Dutch and Belgian last names.
Variations of the surname Lemkens
The Lemkens surname has several variants and spellings. The primary spellings are Lemkens, Lemcken, Lemckens and Lemkens.
Lemkens originated from North Germanic, sitting right on the border of Holland and Germany, so it follows both countries’ naming conventions. The name is derived from a combination of the prefix “Lem” and “ken”, which means “child” or “son” in Low Germanic.
Surnames related to or derived from Lemkens include Lemken, Lempers, Lemperts, Lemckens, Lemcken, Lemske, Lemkies, Lemcke, Lemke, and Leimkers.
Lemken is the most common variant, which comes from the Dutch spelling of the name and is most commonly found in the Netherlands and parts of Germany.
Lemperts and Lempers are more commonly used in Germany. These variants are derived from the Dutch name Lemkens, with the “t” and “s” at the end of the name being added to reflect the German orthography.
The spelling Lemcken is an 18th-century variant of Lemken and is found primarily in Belgium.
The spelling Lemke is an 18th-century variant of the Dutch name Lemkens and is found primarily in Germany and Poland.
The spelling Lemkies can be found in the Netherlands and is derived from Lemkens.
The spelling Lemcke is a combination of the Dutch name Lemkens and the German name Lemke and is found primarily in Germany.
Lemske is an uncommon spelling found primarily in Germany and is derived from the combination of Lemken and Lemke.
Last but not least, Leimkers is an alternative spelling of Lemkens and is found primarily in the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Lemkens
- René Lemkens, Dutch journalist and television presenter
- Heinrich Lemkens, German lawyer and politician
- Nicole Lemken, German university professor
- Philomena Lemken, Dutch stage actress
- Elisabeth Lemkens, Belgian philosopher and theologian
- Thomas Lemkens, Belgian cyclist
- Laurens Lemkens, Dutch politician
- Tom Lemkens, Belgian footballer
- Jo Lemkens, Dutch politician
- Philip Lemkens, Belgian painter