Surname Nöllke - Meaning and Origin

Nöllke: What does the surname Nöllke mean?

The last name Nöllke is of German origin, and is derived from the name Nolte. The name originally indicated a person who lived in or near a densely wooded area, with the ‘-ke’ suffix being a diminutive of ‘nolte’, meaning ‘small’.

The pre-7th century ‘Nolte’ was also used to denote someone who lived near a dry valley or ravine. It is possible that in some instances, that the name referred to a family line that lived in a particular locale over many generations, with ‘-ke’ specifically referring to a smaller hamlet or settlement within that area.

Other variants of the name are known to exist, such as Nöltes, No/elke and Noeldke, and all contribute to the surname’s varied history.

Nöllke has survived through the centuries across Europe and is a common surname today in Germany. It has also spread into other countries such as the Netherlands and the United States. Thus, the name is a symbol of the success of this family over many generations.

Nöllke: Where does the name Nöllke come from?

The last name Nöllke is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. In Germany, its roots can be traced back to the mid-18th century when the first recorded instance was recorded in Wabern, Hesse. Since then, it has spread throughout Germany, primarily in the northern and western regions.

In the Netherlands, Nöllke has been a documented family name since at least 1617. Today, its distribution is primarily concentrated in the province of North Brabant. Former colonial ties and migration patterns explain why the surname is also found in several European countries as well as the United States.

A major hypothesis is that Nöllke is derived from the German noble family of the same name—possibly from a branch of the Fürstenberg noble family. This could explain why its frequency is so concentrated in the northwest part of Germany and the Netherlands, where most old German noble families originated.

Since the Nöllke last name is not particularly common, it can be challenging to trace its history and origins with any degree of accuracy. But whatever the origin story may be, today's Nöllkes have the distinction of having a unique name that is shared by relatively few individuals.

Variations of the surname Nöllke

The surname Nöllke is derived from a German-language surname with an Anglo-Saxon-language origin. This surname has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, some of which are derived from family names that were popular in the Low Saxon regions of Germany before the 12th century.

The most common variants of Nöllke include Nullke, Nollke, Knollke, Knellke, Knöllke, Knölke, Noellke, Nöhlke, Neallke, Nöelke, and Noölke. The variants Knölke and Nöhlke are the most common spellings of the surname.

The Low Saxon form of Nöllke is Nölke, which is found as a variant and spelling of the surname. The Low Saxon form is mainly found in West Germanic countries and is formed from a Low Saxon nickname for a plachy person.

There are also a few surnames of the same origin as Nöllke, such as Null, Nöel, Nölker, Knell, and Knolter. Null is derived from the Germanic nickname Nulle, Boel is derived from the Germanic nickname Bolle, and Nöel is derived from the Middle High German nickname Nulle. Nölker is derived from the Middle High German nickname Nölkære, Knell from the Middle High German nickname Knoll, and Knolter is derived from the Middle High German nickname Knolltære.

Overall, the surname Nöllke has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, which range from Low Saxon forms of the name to surnames of the same origin.

Famous people with the name Nöllke

• Katrin Nöllke: German rower who won gold medals at the 1990 World Rowing Championships and finished fourth in the double sculls at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Hans-Joachim Nöllke: German rower and eight-time national rowing champion.
• Rebecca Nöllke: German rower who won silver medals in the women’s quadruple sculls at the 2009 and 2010 World Rowing Junior Championships.
• Konrad Nöllke: German rower who won a bronze medal in the men’s coxless fours at the 1989 World Rowing Junior Championships.
• Johannes Nöllke: German football coach and former player.
• Günther Nöllke: German footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s for 1. FC Nürnberg.
• Uwe Nöllke: German Olympic modern pentathlete who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Johannes Nöllke: German journalist and founder of the online magazine NMZ.
• Hans-Jürgen Nöllke: German politician who was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany from 1994 to 2005.
• Sören Nöllke: German musician who plays the dobro, mandolin, and lap steel guitar.

Other surnames

Nöllken