Surname Lemmke - Meaning and Origin
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Lemmke: What does the surname Lemmke mean?
The last name Lemmke is derived from German origins. It is a locational name, belonging to a person who could have possibly lived near a stream called "Lembeck" or by a sloped hill called "Lemback".
The meanings of "Lembeck" or "Lemback" are not determined since it is not a well-known word. It could just be an old German word that is rarely used. It may have come from an early medieval German family or was used to differentiate between two people with similar names.
In some regions of Germany, the name Lemmke may have derived from the Low German word "Lemm", meaning "Lubber". The name was likely assumed by a person of that description.
The surname Lemmke was primarily found in Lower Saxony, in Germany near the Dutch border, and appeared in the German directory of nobility in 1616. It is also present in Germany today, being quite common still.
All in all, the surname Lemmke is of German origin, whose exact meaning remains a mystery to this day. Though it likely originated from the words "Lembeck" or "Lemback" or a variation of the Low German word, "Lemm", the real origins of the name may forever remain a mystery.
Order DNA origin analysisLemmke: Where does the name Lemmke come from?
The last name Lemmke is predominantly found in Germany today. It originates from the Middle High German word lemme, which means small and humble, and ke, which stands for family. It is thought to have been used by a humble family living in Germany seeking a way to distinguish themselves.
The name Lemmke is the second most common last name in Germany today, with an estimated 230,000 people carrying the name. It is most commonly found in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, the two most populous states in the country. It is also popular in other parts of Central Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Further afield, Lemmke is also found in the United States and Canada, indicating the presence of German settlers in North America. In the US, the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota have the highest occurrence of the name. This is mainly due to the high number of immigrants from Germany in the 19th and early 20th centuries who settled in these states.
Lemmke is also found in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America, hinting at the presence of German migrants in the colonial era.
Overall, the last name Lemmke is still present around the world today and, despite its humble origins, is a testament to the spread of German culture throughout the world over the centuries.
Variations of the surname Lemmke
The surname Lemmke is of German origin, with a few variants including Lemke, Lemcke, and Lemke. It is derived from the Middle High German word “lemmer”, which means a shield. In Old German, it is said to have evolved from the word “lehme”, meaning clay or soil. It is also possibly derived from the German term for knight or warrior, “Lemmer”.
The variants of Lemmke varies depending on the location and the individual’s native language. In Germany, variants include Lemke, Lemcken, and Lemmecken, while in the United States, Lemke is most commonly spelled Lemke. It is also occasionally spelled Lemky, Lemcke, Lemek, Lemplke, Lemmyke, Lemmieke, Lemmack, and Lemmik.
The surname Lemmke is also found in some other countries, most notably Denmark, where it is pronounced “Lemm” and is spelled Lem, Lamm, Lemme, and Lammek. It is also found in Austria, where it is pronounced and spelled as Lemm.
Surnames which have similar origins to Lemmke include Lemer, Lemmer, Lemsing, and Lembke. Other surnames which are derived from the same source include Lemieux, Lemaire, Lemari, and Lemarchand.
Overall, the surname Lemmke is an ancient Germanic name which dates back to medieval times. Its spelling and pronunciation has changed gradually over time, but it is still found throughout many parts of the world today.
Famous people with the name Lemmke
- Nate Lemmke: American professional ice hockey player
- Jessica Lemmke: Deputy Director of Digital Innovation at US Digital Service
- Carl Lemmke: Recipient of a 2009 National Medal of Science
- Gavin Lemmke: Professional football player in the Canadian Football League
- Liliana Lemmke: Argentine tennis player
- Peggy Lemmke: International volleyball player
- Steven Lemmke: Former professional basketball player
- Maurice Lemmke: German volleyball player
- Benthe Lemmke: Dutch political leader
- Sally Lemmke: Prominent Australian public health professor
- Alan Lemmke: Canadian long track speed skater
- Marc Lemmke: German World Cup alpine ski racer
- Anke Lemmke: German canoe slalom competitor
- Marius Lemmke: German footballer
- Gilles Lemmke: French professional rugby union player
- Jeff Lemmke: Minor-league baseball pitcher
- Elisabeth Lemmke: Former Austrian alpine ski racer
- Don Lemmke: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Ginny Lemmke: American women's professional basketball player
- Alwin Lemmke: German professional footballer
- Friedel Lemmke: German professional tennis player
- Christian Lemmke: Professional German basketball player
- Wilhelm Lemmke: Member of German aerospace industry
- Albert Lemmke: Prominent Lutheran theologian
- Bernd Lemmke: German climate scientist
- Michael Lemmke: Swiss Olympic ice hockey player
- Wilhelm Lemmke-Jonas: German Nazi Luftwaffe officer
- John Lemmke: American locomotive engineer
- Todd Lemmke: American football center
- Kenneth Lemmke: Verified as the spy alias of Helmut Grottrup