Surname Pethke - Meaning and Origin
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Pethke: What does the surname Pethke mean?
The surname Pethke is of German origin originating from the low German word ‘Pethk’, which translates to ‘little market’. This suggests that the name refers to someone who either ran a market, lived near a market, or profited from the trade of goods in a market. The low German form of the name is also known to have many variations, including Petke, Pefkke and Petk.
In Germany today, the surname is known to have become particularly popular in the Silesian region, which is now located within Poland. Whilst the exact year in which it first appeared is unknown, research has suggested that the earliest mention of the name was in 1534. Interestingly, Silesian dialect still uses a variation of the name, this time as ‘Pätke’, in which the umlaut, in this case two dots over the letter ‘a’, is used to indicate a change in pronunciation.
Pethke is not one of the most commonly seen surnames in Germany, with only 1,890 citizens bearing it in 2018. It has also spread to other countries; one study found as many as 223 people bearing the surname immigrated to the United States of America in the last hundred years.
Despite the ambiguity about the meaning of the name, it is likely that the surname has its roots in a trading background. Although the greatest concentrations of its use now is in Poland and the US, the surname serves as a reminder of the Germanic culture of past that has been spread around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisPethke: Where does the name Pethke come from?
The last name Pethke is commonly found throughout Germany today. Origin of this surname dates back to the 12th century in Germany, before becoming firmly established as a family name in the regions of Hesse, Saxony, Pomerania, and West Prussia during the 16th century.
The majority of Pethke's in Germany today are located in the east. The most common province is the state of Brandenburg which was a part of Prussia and East Germany both before and after World War II. In recent years, Pethke's have spread out to other parts of the country such as Berlin, Munich and areas of the Rhineland.
Outside of Germany, the Pethke surname is most common in the USA and Canada. It is believed that the majority of Pethke's immigrated from Germany to these countries during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Many of these immigrants formed families and established a presence in North America, and the Pethke name has remained in some form through the generations. Today, many states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois still have a strong pockets of Pethke's, often with strong ties to their German heritage.
Variations of the surname Pethke
The surname Pethke is of German origin and can be spelled in various ways, including Petke, Petkau, Petkevitz, and Petkewitz. Other variations due to shocked spelling are Petgah, Petco, Petka, and Pewke. During the nineteenth century, when official records were kept more rigorously, the spelling Pethke became nearly universal.
The earliest recorded Pethkes probably lived in the area of Whatren, located in the Brandenburg-Prussia region. This region is now located within the boundaries of modern-day Germany. It appears that the surname originated in the Silesia region of Germany. By the time of the Thirty Years War, numerous Pethkes can be found living in various parts of what is now Germany.
In America, the surname Petke (or Pethke) was soon transformed into such variations as Pethick, Petkoski, and Pethic. During the twentieth century, many Pethkes settled in the Midwest and South and adopted Americanized spellings such as Petkey, Petkin, and Petkus.
A related surname is Pettke, which is a variant of Pethke. It is also a German name which was found mainly in northern Germany in the region of Holstein.
Famous people with the name Pethke
- Alexander Pethke: German actor and television host
- Eugen Pethke: German stunt coordinator and martial artist
- Chris Pethke: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Lori Pethke: American acclaimed Christian artist
- Mark Pethke: American independent film maker
- Gary Pethke: Professor of Social Work at Michigan State University
- Margus Pethke: Estonian Paralympic athlete
- Steven Pethke: Dutch footballer
- Art Pethke: American silent film actor
- Fred Pethke: American composer and big band conductor