Surname Plöckinger - Meaning and Origin
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Plöckinger: What does the surname Plöckinger mean?
The last name Plöckinger is a toponymic family name, indicating that its original bearers originated from several places with a similar name located in the German Bavaria region. The version of the name with the umlaut, i.e. Plöckinger, is usually from the Upper Bavarian area around Munich, while the variant without the umlaut, i.e. Ploeckinger, is normally from the area known as Middle Franconia.
The root of the name is the word 'Ploch' which is an old German word meaning a small hill, mound, knoll or elevation in the landscape. The suffix 'inger' or 'ingerin' means 'person from, dweller at' or 'one who lives by' and refers to someone dwelling in an area, typically rural, named after such a feature.
Therefore, the literal translation of Plöckinger is 'Person from the Hill or Mound', indicating that the original bearer of the name used to dwell on a small elevation in the landscape. As such, Plöckinger likely originally denoted someone who lived on a piece of hilly terrain near one of the placenames that have this name component.
The version of the name without the umlaut, Ploeckinger, may also be derived from another placename called Ploh or Ploeh, which is an old family name in Bavaria as well, most probably originating with a place named after a mound or hill.
Order DNA origin analysisPlöckinger: Where does the name Plöckinger come from?
The last name Plöckinger is most common today in Germany, particularly in the southern regions of the country. It is also quite common in parts of Austria, particularly in the states of Lower Austria and Styria. According to data from Geni.com, the name is found in several other European countries as well including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Switzerland, indicating the surname may have spread from its homeland of German-speaking central Europe.
The name Plöckinger is derived from the Middle High German word 'plöcken', which means “to pluck or pull out”. It may have originally referred to a person who plucked items like produce, feathers, or even wool from animals. Other surnames that can be traced back to this same Middle High German root word include Plöckl, Ploeckel, Plöcklein, and Plöckiger.
Plöckinger is an occupational surname; it likely originated in an agricultural society based on herding domesticated animals like cattle. According to DNA research, the Plöckinger surname belongs to the haplogroup R-Z198, which is primarily found in Germany and Austria. Researchers have identified several distinct lineages within this haplogroup, but further research is required to understand the full extent of the original Plöckinger family tree.
Variations of the surname Plöckinger
The surname Plöckinger is derived from the Old German language and has a range of variant spellings and surnames. Generally, the spelling variations of Plöckinger include Plöckinger, Plöckingers, Ploeckinger, Ploeckingers, Pleckinger, Pleckingers, Pleekingers, Pleckinger, and Plackinger. Other surnames derived from the same roots include Plöckert, Ploecke, Plöcking, Plöckenz, Plecken, Plöckingen, Plecke, Plöcken, Plöcke, Plocking, Plöckert, Plöckinge, Plöckenbek, Plöckinges, Pleckels, and Plöck.
The surname has a range of origins, but most likely it comes from the German plöcke meaning “a tell” or “a grave”. The name likely indicates that the original bearer of the name hailed from one of the former German villages near a tell or grave. In some cases, the surname might be derived from a geographic location. Additionally, some variants of the name might derive from occupational history, as in the case of Plöckingers and Pleckinger, which indicate that the individual was probably a maker of lurms or sleighs.
The migration of the name signifies its presence in modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, and parts of the United States. It is most common in Germany, where it is a mainly southern German name. In the US, the Plöckinger and its variants are found in mostly Midwest states in areas where a substantial influx of German immigrants took place in the past.
It is important to note that each variant of the name carries its own unique history and that more research needs to be done to uncover the origin and history of the Plöckinger name.
Famous people with the name Plöckinger
- Evelyn Plöckinger: Evelyn Plöckinger is an Austrian academic and journalist. She is currently a research associate at the Institute for Contemporary History at the University of Innsbruck and a professor of communication studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg.
- Paul Plöckinger: Paul Plöckinger was a German bacteriologist, recognized for his work in typhoid, diphtheria, and syphilis. He was the director of the Marienstift Institute of Hygiene in Berlin from 1898 to 1908, and also founded the Leipzig-based Lebenswirklichkeit Institute in 1908.
- Michael Plöckinger: Michael Plöckinger is a German sculptor, known for his large-scale installations and sculptures. His works are often of great historical context and can be seen at numerous museums across Germany.
- Max Plöckinger: Max Plöckinger was a German composer and choirmaster known for his work in opera, classical, and religious music. He worked with numerous leading European opera companies, such as the Kassel Opera and the Berlin State Opera.
- Anton Plöckinger: Anton Plöckinger was an Austrian violinist and conductor, most notably the concertmaster of the Vienna State Opera from 1882 to 1890. He was the father of renowned composer Max Plöckinger.
- Karl Plöckinger: Karl Plöckinger was a German botanist and phycologist who is remembered for his work with aquatic plants, particularly seaweeds. He was the author of several books on aquatic plants, such as "Die Algen des Nord- und Ostseeraumes."
- Franz Plöckinger: Franz Plöckinger was a German Romantic late-19th century landscape painter. His paintings often depicted the Bavarian countryside, often featuring a river, mountains, and forests with moody skies. Many of his works can be seen in German and Austrian museums.