Surname Lemcken - Meaning and Origin
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Lemcken: What does the surname Lemcken mean?
The surname Lemcken likely originated in Germany, with the earliest known record of the name appearing there in the 1500s. It could easily have migrated from neighboring countries as well. The surname is likely derived from the Old German language, and its literal meaning can be interpreted as “little man.”
Given its origin, it’s likely that the surname was originally used as a nickname, derived from the corporeal stature of the person possessing it. Over time, that nickname could have become synonymous with that particular family and was eventually adopted as their official surname.
Today, Lemcken is still a widespread surname and is mostly concentrated in countries with significant German-speaking populations, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of the United States and Canada.
The Lemcken family name is a proud and noble one, steeped in centuries of history and a reminder of a person’s small yet mighty beginnings.
Order DNA origin analysisLemcken: Where does the name Lemcken come from?
The last name Lemcken is most common in the Netherlands, where it ranked in the top 400 of surnames in 2016. According to the Dutch version of Wikipedia, the name has been traced back to Nijmegen, an ancient city in the Dutch province of Gelderland. The Dutch also spell the name "Lemcken." It is likely that the name originated during the Middle Ages, when the earliest Dutch surnames were formed.
The last name Lemcken has spread across the globe today, as more and more Dutch immigrants move away from the Netherlands. The last name can be found in many places around the world, from the United States to the United Kingdom, from Canada to Australia. According to the ancestry website, familysearch.org, other countries with a significant population of Lemcken's include India, Brazil, Norway, South Africa, France, Italy, and Spain.
In the United States, the last name is especially popular in California, where it's listed as the 967th most common surname. Furthermore, the website Ancestry.com lists the last name as the 563rd most common surname in Canada, the 1,847th most common in England, and the 2,744th most common in Australia.
In short, the name Lemcken is most common in the Netherlands, but it can be found in most countries of the world today.
Variations of the surname Lemcken
The variants and spellings of the surname Lemcken include Leemken, Lemken, Lemcken, Lemken, Lemken, Leemken, Leemkens, Lemkens, Lemckens, Lemkens, Limcken, Limken, Limcken, Limkins, Lynkens, Lynckens, Lynkens, Lynkin, Lemmen, Lassemken, and Lammen.
The surname Lemcken originates from the Lower German language, with the earliest recorded usage appearing around the early 15th century. The name is associated with regions around the countries of Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Northern Germany. It was an occupational surname used to denote someone who worked in a meadow or moneylender who served the local area.
The surname Lemcken is also known by other surnames with similar origins and related spellings. These include Lammers, Lemmens, Demcken, Deemken, Deemkens, Demeken, Deemkin, Demeken, Demens, and Deemmens. All of these names likely had similar meanings, and may have been derived from different forms of the same root word.
The Lemcken surname is also related to some Dutch surnames, which include Leemans, Lemmen, Lemmens, Lemmens, Schutte, and Smit. The Dutch version of the surname is derived from an occupational name, and was often used to refer to people who worked as wool-weavers, loafers, millers, smoke fishermen, or coopers.
Overall, the Lemcken surname is a relatively widespread name, with variants and spellings existing in several different countries. Its meaning is likely derived from an occupational title, and it is often associated with the countries of Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Northern Germany.
Famous people with the name Lemcken
- John Lemcken: head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1937-1941.
- Paul Lemcken: American actor, producer and director who appeared in several films, such as Psycho Beach Party, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2008.
- Peter Lemcken: Dutch footballer who played for Dutch clubs PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Rotterdam.
- Donald Lemcken: Canadian film and television actor who appeared in such films as The Changeling and The Brood.
- Bernhard Lemcken: German actor best known for playing the lead role of Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
- Joseph Lemcken: German-American actor who performed on stage and in several films, including Carry On Up the Khyber, Ice Cold in Alex and ( most famously) Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
- Jack Lemcken: Dutch musician, composer and producer. He is well known for his work in producing The Scorpions.
- Willem Lemcken: Dutch mathematician and logician who wrote several books on mathematics and logic, and was awarded the Korteweg–de Vries Prize in 1968.
- John Lemcken: Canadian athlete who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal in the men's 880 yards event.
- Mark Lemcken: Canadian film and television actor best known for his role as Cecil in The 13th Warrior.