Surname Goeker - Meaning and Origin
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Goeker: What does the surname Goeker mean?
The last name Goeker is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “goke” which denoted a type of scythe or sickle used for cutting grain. As such, the name was likely given to someone working in the grain industry – likely a farmer or miller.
The surname Goeker has numerous variants, such as Gocker, Goker, Goghker and Ganger. The 1881 UK census recorded 17 people with the Goeker surname living in the country, although this number likely rose over the following decades as increased immigration took place. In contemporary times, the name Goeker is most commonly found in Germany and in parts of the United States with significant German ancestry.
Throughout history, the surname Goeker has mainly been associated with farming, though it could well also have been used as an occupational name for a miller, as both occupations would require the use of a scythe or sickle. It could also have been used as a distinguishing name for someone who used or sold such tools, or someone else engaged in an activity relating to the cultivation of grain.
Finally, the name may also have been used as an adopted surname – for example, if a family moved from one location to another and needed to distinguish themselves from others with the same surname, they may have adopted the name Goeker, derived from the Middle High German term for a scythe.
Order DNA origin analysisGoeker: Where does the name Goeker come from?
The surname Goeker is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. It is of German origin, and was a personal name for someone who lived near a "goeker", or a dry riverbed.
In the United States, the Goeker surname is especially concentrated in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Records show that some of the earliest settlers in the United States bearing the Goeker name arrived in the 1700s, particularly in Pennsylvania. Today, the largest concentration of people bearing the Goeker surname is found in Ohio.
In Canada, the Goeker name is found mainly in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. It is interesting to note that the Goeker surname is most commonly found in the vicinity of large bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes, which suggests that the family’s roots likely trace back to Germany.
Although the name is more common in North America today, some descendants of the Goekers still live in Germany, particularly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Variations of the surname Goeker
The surname Goeker is a Dutch or German surname meaning “goer” or “walker”. It is most commonly spelled Goeker or Goker, but there are many other variants too. Some of the common variants and spellings of the name Goeker include Goacker, Goakker, Gohker, Goohker, Gocher, and Goocher.
Another variant of the name Goeker is Gauker. This variant appears in both Dutch and German records, and it is also sometimes found spelled as Gauer. Other variants of this name can include Goukker, Goukker, and Gouwker.
Surnames that have the same origin as Goeker include De Goeker, Gueker, Geuker, and Goekers. These surnames have varying spellings depending on the language that they are written in, although they all share the same meaning.
In the United States, Goeker is often seen spelled as Gocker. This is due to an Americanised version of the spelling of the name Goeker, as the letter “k” is replaced with a “c” in the spelling.
Goeker is an old surname with many different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. Whether it is spelt Goeker, Goker, Gauker, Gocker, or any other variation, they all carry the same meaning of “goer” or “walker”.
Famous people with the name Goeker
- Fabian Göker, German professional footballer
- Carl Göker, German Olympic bobsledder
- Birgit Göker, German film actress
- Marijan Göker, Croatian businessman and philanthropist
- Stephan Göker, German composer
- Eric Göker, German volleyball coach
- Ernst-Ludwig Göker, German metallurgist and geologist
- Karen Göker, German-American television personality
- Jörg Göker, German cinematographer and director
- Ulrich Göker, German diplomat and ambassador