Surname Sacken - Meaning and Origin
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Sacken: What does the surname Sacken mean?
The last name Sacken is derived from the German word, sacken, which translates to “Sack” or “Bag” in English. The German word has been in use for centuries and is most likely a geographical or topographical reference to a place, likely a settlement located near a bag-shaped hill or following a stream of water that was surrounded by gentle slopes or a stream of water that flowed in a zigzag path.
The Sacken surname is most common in Northern Europe, particularly Germany, but can also be found in other countries, such as Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is likely to have originated with a family living near the physical landmark of the original “bag” from which the name was derived.
The surname also appears in the U.S. as “Sacken”, “Sakken”, and Sackon. It is most likely a variation of the German original, either as a result of an alternative spelling or because of the family’s geographical journey.
The Sacken name can be found in records in the U.S. as early as 1850. By this time, more than 60 individuals surnamed “Sacken” had immigrated to the U.S., primarily in the northern states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Today, the Sacken surname is still commonly used, mainly in the northern U.S., and it is a reminder of the family’s origins in the German lands.
Order DNA origin analysisSacken: Where does the name Sacken come from?
The last name Sacken is most commonly found in Germany and Eastern Europe, particularly the countries of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. It can also be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, most likely by descendants of European immigrants. The origin of the name is uncertain, however it may have been derived from either the German or Slavic words for ‘sack’.
In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the regions of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. It can also be found in the United Kingdom, mainly in the Berkshire, Hampshire, and Wiltshire regions. The same name pattern is found in the United States, where it is most commonly seen in the states of Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
In Poland, people with the last name Sacken are found mainly in the Świętokrzyskie, Małopolskie, and Podkarpackie regions, while in Lithuania, they primarily inhabit the Vilnius and Kaunas regions. It is also common in Latvia, Belarus, and Russia, with many people bearing the last name found in the Vitebsk and Minsky regions.
Overall, the name Sacken remains prominent in Germany and Eastern Europe, however there are also many individuals living in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada who share the same surname.
Variations of the surname Sacken
The surname Sacken has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The German and/or Ashkenazi Jewish variations of Sacken are Sachs and Sachsen. These surnames can be both patronymic, meaning they were taken from a father's first name, as well as toponymic, meaning they were taken from the place an individual lived. These London Vital Records indicate these spellings were also found in England during the 1600s.
Another form of the spelling, Sechen, is a variation of the name that has been found among Russian Jews. Polish records indicate another form of Sacken is Sachon.
Many of these variations eventually were phoneticized to sound more like the English language or the language of another region of the world. The variations that resulted from such phoneticization include Zaks, Saack, Sain, Sacks, Sak, Saken, Saks, Sakson, Saxton, and Seckin.
The name can also be found in many forms in other countries of Europe, including Austria, France, and Hungary. Forms of the surname include Sakki, Sac, Sacco, and Sacchi in Italy, as well as Saks in Denmark and Sweden.
In the Netherlands, the spelling was changed to Sack. In Ireland, some form of the name was found in the spelling Sacken.
Overall, the surname Sacken is found in many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin throughout Europe and the world.
Famous people with the name Sacken
- Leopold von Bagens, Prussian general (1764-1831)
- Eduard von Sacken, Russian field marshal (1783–1868)
- George de Sacken, Russian diplomat (1753–1848)
- Ida Wilhelmovna von Sacken, Russian royal family member (1874–1943)
- Ernst Thassilo von Sacken, German zoologist (1835–1909)
- Gustav Adolf von Sacken, Prussian general (1777–1861)
- Richal Franco von Sacken, Portuguese leather tycoon (1893–1963)
- Otto von Sacken, Prussian military officer (1780–1854)
- Wilhelm von Sacken, Russian soldier and field marshal (1796–1884)
- Valerie von Sacken, German journalist and entrepreneur (1953–2019)