Surname Schönkes - Meaning and Origin
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Schönkes: What does the surname Schönkes mean?
The last name Schönkes is of German origin. It originated in the area of what is now southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Middle High German (the language of the Holy Roman Empire), the name means "beautiful/handsome", derived from the words "schon" meaning "beautiful" and "kess" meaning "handsome".
The Schönkes name is a patronymic surname, which is when someone is named after their father or ancestor. It was and is commonly used by families to pass down their unique heritage. This name has been used independently in individual families and communities from as early as 1100.
Schönkes has been considered a more remotively well-known name, although it is still in use today. It has been a distinct name of many immigrant families who settled in the United States (primarily between 1820 and 1900). The spelling is usually "Schönkes" in the US, although some variations such as "Schoenk" and "Schonk" can also be found.
Overall, Schönkes is an interesting surname that holds a glimpse into German genealogical history. It is associated with beauty, and is a representation of the legacy that each family holds.
Order DNA origin analysisSchönkes: Where does the name Schönkes come from?
The last name Schönkes is a German surname, and is most common in Germany and parts of northern Europe. According to the October 2020 global surname distribution data from Ancestry.com, the Schönkes surname is most common in Germany, where it is ranked the 745th most common last name. Every town and city in Germany has at least some Schönkes, with the highest concentrations occurring in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich.
The Schönkes surname is less common in other parts of Europe. However, it is notably present in some Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. In Norway, the Schönkes surname is ranked as the 2,613th most common last name, and in Sweden, it is the 7,546th most common. In Denmark, the Schönkes name is the 5,817th most common name.
As far as other parts of the world, Schönkes is most common in the United States. According to Ancestry.com, the Schönkes surname is ranked as the 20,521st most common last name in the US. This is attributed to the large amount of German immigrants who arrived in the US in the 19th century. Other countries in North America, such as Canada, also have a noticeable number of Schönkes, as do some countries in Oceania, such as Australia and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Schönkes
The surname Schönkes is of German origin, and is derived from the German adjective “schön” meaning “beautiful”. The variant spellings of Schönkes include Schonkes, Schoenkes and Schoinkes.
Other surnames of similar origin include Schön, Schöne, Schoen, Schöner, and Schoniawski. The Schöne family is said to virtually synonymous with the Schönkes family.
The Schön family is of ancient Germanic origin and dates back to the medieval times in which they were believed to be landlords in the Schwaben region of Germany. The Schöner family is derived from the Middle High German term “schoener” meaning “prettier”.
The Schoen family was a prominent Dutch family in medieval times, first mentioned in records in the 14th century. This family was given nobility status in the form of a coat of arms in 1575, in recognition of their contribution to the region.
The Schoniawski family is likely a variation of the Polish surname “Szczeniowski”. This surname is derived from “szczen”, which means “puppy”.
In Summary, the surname Schönkes and its variants, spellings and similar surnames of the same origin include Schonkes, Schoenkes, Schoinkes, Schön, Schöne, Schoen, Schöner, Schoniawski and Szczeniowski.
Famous people with the name Schönkes
- Thomas Schönkes: German footballer
- Astrid Schönkes: German singer and actress
- Marc Schönkes: German football manager
- Katja Schönkes: German tennis player
- Albert Schönkes: German physicist
- Thomas Schönkes: German artist and filmmaker
- Jacob Schönkes: German author and journalist
- Helmut Schönkes: German actor and director
- Gerd Schönkes: German physicist
- Tim Schönkes: German DJ and producer