Surname Planck - Meaning and Origin

Planck: What does the surname Planck mean?

The last name Planck is derived from the German word for 'plank,' suggesting that at one time the family was involved in woodworking. The name is most associated with the work of Max Planck, the father of Quantum Theory. Born in Germany in 1858, Planck made a huge contribution to science and his name is now synonymous with modern physics.

In 1900, Planck proposed the revolutionary concept of energy being emitted in discrete, localized packets or ‘quanta’. He found out that light and matter exists not in continuous form, but in discrete quantities. His now famous ‘Planck’s Constant’, or h, is the ratio of the energy of a quantum of radiation to its frequency. This mathematical insight provided the foundation for the development of quantum theory and mechanics, paving the way for major advances in 20th century technology.

Today, the Planck name is honored as an essential part of scientific history and is used to describe research initiatives related to the fields of psychology, Biology, and optics. Max Planck's discoveries have been referred to as the “birth of modern physics”, and his legacy and influence continue to be felt in scientific endeavors throughout the world.

Planck: Where does the name Planck come from?

The last name Planck is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a surname that originates from the now defunct Prussian nobility from what was the Grand Duchy of Pomerania and is connected to the aristocratic House of Figures. The name Planck derives from a Slavic word that means "benchmark" or "peg" and was an ancient title given to a village's chief magistrate. This title eventually evolved into a hereditary last name as it was passed down through generations.

The exact date of origin of the Planck surname is unknown, however, records show that its first known bearer was 16th century German nobleman, Aubertin Planck. From this point, the surname began to spread across Germany and particularly through southeastern areas such as Pomerania, Brandenburg, and Silesia.

The earliest records indicate that Plansks lived in Prussia and surrounding regions. Today, the surname is most concentrated in the states of North Rhine-Westphailia, Hamburg, Berlin, Bavaria, and Saxonia. Within these regions the greatest numbers of Plansks are found in larger cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich. The Planck surname also appears to be quite popular in places such as Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, and the Netherlands.

In conclusion, the last name Planck is most widely found in Germany today, followed by countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Variations of the surname Planck

The surname Planck originated in the German regions where variations in spelling and surnames were quite common. The common variants and spellings for the last name Planck include: Plank, Planckh, Plancke, Plunk, Plunck, Plunckh, Plonck and Plonckh.

The Plank variant of the Planck surname originates in the southern German regions and is common in Bavaria. The Planckh variant is derived from a northern German surname and is native to the Prussia and East Prussia. Plancke is a rare variant of Planck and is found in the regions of West Prussia.

The Plunk variant is from northern Germany and Netherlands while Plunck and Plunckh is the Dutch version of Planck. Plonck and Plonckh are also Dutch variant of Planck and are found in regions of Netherlands and Belgium. This surname can also be found in anglicised variants such as Plunkett, Planx and Plonks.

The Planck surname has spread across different countries and many countries now have their own versions of the surname. In the United States, it is commonly seen as Plench, Plinc, and Plunkett. In the United Kingdom, variants such as Plankley and Plincks can be found. Canada has versions such as Plinko and Ploner while Australia has Plonko and Plnck. So the last name Planck has many variants and spellings across the world.

Famous people with the name Planck

• Max Planck: a German physicist known as one of the founders of quantum theory and one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century.
• Erwin Planck: a German composer and musicologist who was one of the most important music scholars in the early 20th century.
• Richard Planck: a German mathematician and astronomer at the famous University of Halle, who wrote important papers on the motion of satellites and celestial mechanics.
• Emil Planck: a German industrialist and banker who served on the board of the Imperial Bank of Germany.
• Claus-Dieter Planck: a German film director and screenwriter who has directed many successful films and television series.
• Gustav Planck: a German wooden-boat builder who is probably the most famous wood boat builder today.
• J. B. Planck: a German lawyer and legal scholar who was the author of several important papers on economic laws.
• Karl Planck: a German mathematician and physicist whose works include the Planck Constant which forms the basis of quantum theory.
• Paul Planck: a German painter and lithographer who made many contributions to the renaissance of German Symbolist art.

Other surnames

Planchet