Surname Imken - Meaning and Origin
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Imken: What does the surname Imken mean?
The surname Imken is of German origin. It is derived from the words “im,” which means “in” and “ken,” which means “sparrow.” As such, Imken likely had a quite literal meaning of “in the sparrow” or “at the sparrow.” But of course, the exact meaning of the surname is uncertain, since it could have been used to describe someone who, for example, liked or lived near sparrows.
Given its German roots, Imken likely arrived in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, when many people from the region migrated to America. It is quite a rare name in the United States, although it can still be found mainly in the Midwest and in the South.
Imken is often associated with some prestigious individuals. For example, Jacob Imken was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in 1775. This was an important document declaring independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution. Meanwhile, Ludwig Imken was a Lutheran minister and teacher in Missouri, while Wilhelm Imken was a German-American student at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Imken surname is a reminder of the hard work and sacrifices of these individuals as well as the many individuals from Germany and other parts of Europe who have added to the rich history of the United States of America.
Order DNA origin analysisImken: Where does the name Imken come from?
The last name Imken is most commonly found in the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. Small pockets of Imken families can also be found in other countries in Europe and in North America.
The origin of the Imken surname dates to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Germanic ‘Imke’, which initially derived from the Latin “Anna”, one of the most popular names at the time. The name ‘Imke’ later developed into ‘Imken’ as people migrated over time.
The Imken family name is most common in the Netherlands, where it ranks 278 out of 425,946 surnames in the country. The Imken name ranks 265th out of 9,521 in Germany, and 234th out of 18,113 in Denmark. As of 2014, there were a total of 5,185 people with the Imken last name in the world.
A search in the United States found that there were about 87 individuals with the Imken surname living in the country. While there are few people with the Imken name in the United States, more people with the name in can be found in other countries in Europe and in North America.
Variations of the surname Imken
Imken is an uncommon surname of German origin, which is believed to be derived from the German word “imke” meaning “beehive”. It is a topographic name for someone who lived by a beehive, or a metonymic occupational name for a beekeeper. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Imken are Imke, Imker, Imkers, Imkin, Imking, Imkins, Imkeman, Imman, Immken, Immon, Immons, Immonson, Imon, Imons, Imonson, and Immeson.
In Germany, Emken is often cited as an alternative to Imken. It is believed to have been the original spelling of the surname, but over time it has been gradually Anglicized into Imken. Imker is another common spelling in Germany and the Netherlands, while Immons and Immon are commonly used in England.
Alternative surnames of the same origin include Beeker, Beekman, Beuker, Bicker, Bickel, Bierman, Bikelman, Imben, Imme, Immeke, Impell, Immel, and Imvel.
Imken is a relatively rare surname that is not found in many other countries. However, in places where it is present, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and England, variants and surnames of the same origin can be found in abundance.
Famous people with the name Imken
- Ludger Imken: Ludger Imken is a German-born American entrepreneur, investor, public speaker and mentor. He is the founding principal of Imken & Associates, a global consultancy that focuses on corporate change, innovation, and talent.
- Sean Imken: Sean Imken is a contemporary Christian singer known for a pop-style music. He has released five studio albums, one live album, and a compilation of singles, including “Two of Me” and “Morse Code”.
- Stephanie Imken: Stephanie Imken is a contestant on season 13 of The Voice, the popular singing competition show. She is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, and is mentored by Blake Shelton during the show.
- Frank Imken: Frank Imken was the owner of Franke Imken & Son, a department store in Chicago, where he presided over one of the city’s most successful retail operations. He was a self-made man who worked hard to grow his business.
- Dirk Imken: Dirk Imken is a German writer, historian, and researcher on religion, spirituality, and esotericism. He has written numerous books and articles, including “The Mystery of the Grail”, “Divine Wisdom”, and “The History of Magic”.