Surname Hühnken - Meaning and Origin

Hühnken: What does the surname Hühnken mean?

The last name Hühnken is a Germanic patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Hühnk", a diminutive form of the name "Huon". The origin of the name is a combination of two Proto-Germanic elements, "hun" meaning “bear” or “bear cub” and "kin" meaning “kin” or “kind”. Therefore, the literal meaning of the name Hühnken translates to “little kin of the bear” or “little bear cub”.

Additionally, Hühnken is a habitational name, meaning that individuals who originally bore the name likely took it from a location in Germany where they resided. Typically, habitational surnames offer a clue as to the area or origin of the bearer. Although the precise place of origin for the Hühnken surname is unknown, it is believed to be a northern Germanic surname.

The surname Hühnken is also a variation of other Germanic surnames, including Hühnk, Hühnken, Hühne, Hühnsche and Hünnen. Outside of Germany, the surname is also found in Denmark, the Netherlands and Scotland, indicating that bearers of the name migrated to other countries in Europe in search of opportunity.

Today, the surname Hühnken is quite common and is found throughout the world. Bearers of the name have followed in their ancestors’ footsteps and have settled in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Hühnken: Where does the name Hühnken come from?

The last name Hühnken is most commonly found in Germany today. Specifically, it is more prevalent in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly in the area about 50 miles northwest of the state capital of Düsseldorf. In fact, the name is so associated with this region that in 2015, the local Judiciary III Chamber renamed the nearby square ‘Hühnkenplatz’ in honor of the family.

German records indicate that the Hühnken name has been in the area since the 16th century. By the 1600s, the name was linked to the von Hühnken noble family, an aristocratic dynasty that had lordships and seats of power in nearby Mülheim-Ruhr and Duisburg. It is said that the name is derived from the old German word 'hüne', which literally translates to "giant".

Other places in Germany where the name is a common feature are the cities of Hamburg, Kiel and Halberstadt. The name has also spread to several other European countries, as well as outlying parts of South and Central America.

The Hühnken family remains quite robust in Germany to this day, and that is largely due to the deep respect for heritage that has carried over from generation to generation. In fact, descendants of the original von Hühnken family have continued the legacy of leadership and philanthropy that was first established in the 1600s.

It is highly likely that the name Hühnken will continue to be celebrated in Germany for many years to come.

Variations of the surname Hühnken

The surname Hühnken is of German origin, and is derived from two elements; firstly from the Middle High German word "hune", meaning 'rooster', and secondly from the pre 15th century Middle High German "ken(e)", meaning 'bold', 'loud' or 'stout'.

Variants and other spellings of the surname Hühnken include: Hunke, Huncke, Huenke, Huenken, Hünke, Hünken, Hüncke, Hühnke, Hüneken, Huenecke, Hueneken, Huenneke, Huehnke, Huehnken, Huehneke, Huehnken, Huecken, Hueckken, Huecnke, Huehnk, Huehnel and Huehnelken.

Surnames of similar origin include Huehnemann, Huehnemeyer, Huehnengruber, Huehnenkamper, Huehnenmeister and Huehnenschmitt.

In some instances, the surname Huncke and its variants may be of Polish or Czech origin (either meaning 'warrior' or 'watchman'), or alternatively, may be derived from Hunyadi, a Hungarian surname.

Famous people with the name Hühnken

• Hans Hühnken: Hans Hühnken was a German sculptor who was a professor at the Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague. He is best known for his sculptures of religious figures, portraits, and mannerism-style figures.
• Clemens Hühnken: Clemens Hühnken was a German-born engineer who worked in New Zealand. He built the first railway line in the country and worked for various companies.
• Hermann Hühnken: Hermann Hühnken was a German Astronomer who made discoveries about celestial bodies and taught generations of astronomers. He was also director of the observatory in Heidelberg for many years.
• Erich Hühnken: Erich Hühnken was a German Meteorologist during World War II. He served in the German Army and worked for the Luftwaffe.
• Ulrike Hühnken: Ulrike Hühnken was a famed West German gymnast. She was a multiple World Cup and European champion and was part of the team that won the gold medal in the team event at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
• Andreas Hühnken: Andreas Hühnken was a German Statistician who wrote several books on the subject and was well-respected in the academic community.
• Friedrich Hühnken: Friedrich Hühnken was a German Physicist who specialized in theoretical physics and also made important contributions in the field of thermodynamics.
• Martin Hühnken: Martin Hühnken was a German Cartoonist and animator who began his career in the late 1920s and worked for many years on the television series Die Fabelhaften Wühltürme.

Other surnames

HuhnkeHühnke