Surname Frenken - Meaning and Origin
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Frenken: What does the surname Frenken mean?
The last name Frenken is of German origin and is derived from the word "frenk," which means "friar" or "monk." The surname could have belonged to someone who was a cleric, a monk, or a friar at some point in the family’s history. It is also possible that it was a nickname for someone who was pious or had a tendency to act like a monk or friar in character.
In its early German form, the name was spelled vronk. The spelling gradually changed over the centuries, eventually becoming Frenken. The surname can be found in records from the fifteenth century, with the first recorded instance being in the late 1400s. In the days of the Holy Roman Empire, families bearing this name could be found in cities such as Strasbourg, Frankfurt, and Wurzburg.
Today, the surname Frenken is still found in Germany and surrounding areas, as well as other countries, particularly those with a close connection to German history, such as the Netherlands and the United States. It has also been found in Britain, though in much smaller numbers. It is still in use as a given name in some parts of the world, although it is more common as a surname.
Order DNA origin analysisFrenken: Where does the name Frenken come from?
The last name Frenken is often associated with the Netherlands, where it is fairly common in both the north and south regions. It is also found in small numbers in Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
The Dutch surname is believed to be derived from "vrenken" or "vrunkelen," both terms indicating the action of hedge-trimming. This was an important job in the Middle Ages as it helped to keep farms safe from wild animals.
The Frenken surname is most common in the province of North Brabant, located in the southern part of the Netherlands. Some of the largest cities in North Brabant are: Breda, Eindhoven, Tilburg, and Helmond. Records of the Frenken surname in this region date back to the seventeenth century.
Today, there are many descendants of this surname living all over the world. Notable people with the surname include renowned Dutch sprinter Jesse Frenken (2000–2011), Dutch architect Bernd Frenken (born 1995), and Dr. Rykel Frenken, a former professor at the University of Amsterdam.
Today, the Frenken last name is still found in significant numbers in the Netherlands. It is also present in other countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. As more people emigrate, it is likely to become ever more widespread.
Variations of the surname Frenken
The surname Frenken is of Germanic origin and is spelled variously as Franke, Frank, Franken, Frankert, and Frankewitz. It is derived from the Old High German word "franke", meaning ‘free man’ or "freeholder". It is believed to have originated from when noble families granted freedom to certain men, known as frankgraf, who were allowed to own land.
The variants of the surname include Franck, Fronken, Froncken, Fronke, Frunke, and Frankerts. Some of the surnames derived from the Frenken name are Frankel, Fronkin, Fronkiner, and Frankelstein. There are also variations of these names in other countries, such as France, where the name is spelled as Francoise or Françoise.
In the Netherlands, theDutch spelling of the surname is Franken. In the 16th century, there were a number of fraternities and guilds in the Netherlands, called Frankentonijnen, meaning ‘Franken society’. It was during this time that some Dutch people adopted the surname Franken.
The alternate spellings Frenken, Franke, Franck, Frankel, Frankelstein, Fronken, Froncken, and Fronke are all derived from the same name, and the surnames derived from the original Frenken include Fronkin, Fronkiner, and Frankerts. As a result, it is possible to trace the origin of a certain Frenken family to Germany, the Netherlands, or France.
Famous people with the name Frenken
- Henk Frenken: international artist, professor of fine art, and critic based in Amsterdam.
- Jan Frenken: Flemish poet writing in the Dutch language.
- Dirk Frenken: Dutch actor who has starred in various movies and television series.
- Jürgen Frenken: German football coach and former player.
- Wilfred Frenken: former Dutch professional cyclist who participated in several grand tours.
- Sjoerd Frenken: Netherlands-born artist who has contributed to a number of multimedia gallery and museum exhibitions.
- Dolf Frenken: Dutch politician for the European People's Party.
- Jos Frenken: influential Dutch television director and producer.
- Salvatore Frenken: Dutch ice hockey player who plays for the Tilburg Trappers in the Dutch National Ice Hockey League.
- Pieter Frenken: Dutch football player known for his time with top-rated teams in Europe.