Surname Ponkratz - Meaning and Origin
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Ponkratz: What does the surname Ponkratz mean?
The last name Ponkratz is a German and Jewish surname and is derived from the German words “Ponk” and “Ratz” which mean “bitter” and “rat” respectively. The name is most commonly found around the northern border between Germany and Poland.
The literal meaning of the surname is “bitter rat” which could mean a variety of things. It is uncertain whether the surname was initially a nickname or an indicator of a specific personality trait.
One possible meaning is derived from an old Dutch phrase, “ponkratzke”, which translates into English as “bitter mischief”. This could have been a reference to a mischievous individual or an activity such as gossiping and spreading rumours.
Another potential meaning of the name is “resilient rat”, referring to someone who is tough and able to survive difficult situations. This could be a reference to a person who is not afraid to take risks and who is determined to succeed despite the odds.
The earliest known usage of the surname "Ponkratz" dates back to 1495 in Germany and refers to a man by the name of Peter Ponkratz. The surname has remained relatively rare since then, and is thought to be relatively uncommon outside of the northern border area between Germany and Poland.
Order DNA origin analysisPonkratz: Where does the name Ponkratz come from?
The last name Ponkratz is most commonly found in North America, particularly the United States and Canada. This is because the name has its roots in Europe, with a large number of immigrants coming to the New World from areas such as Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, the most common states in which you’ll find Ponkratzes are those on the east coast; in Canada, the name is concentrated mostly in Ontario.
In terms of geographic density, the concentration of Ponkratz is highest in Wisconsin and Michigan. For example, in Wisconsin, the largest concentration is in Milwaukee county, although it is also common in smaller towns throughout the state. In Michigan, the last name is especially concentrated in the western part of the state, around the areas of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
According to the 2020 Census Bureau data, the estimated number of individuals with the Ponkratz last name in the United States is 1,924. That number is a lot lower than other more common surnames such as Smith, which has a population of 2,406,778. However, the Ponkratz surname is still alive and well today, with many individuals across North America carrying the name proudly.
Variations of the surname Ponkratz
The surname Ponkratz has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variations include Ponkrats, Pontkrats, Pontkratz, Pondrautz, Ponderoltz, Ponderatz, Ponderholtz, Pontkratzes, Poniarrakre, Pontkreits, Pancersz, Pantschke, Pistkroth, Pinske, Poniatow, Pondryk, Punchard, Puntke, Pemberlitz, and Pewiske.
Origin of the surname is likely German ("of an Old High German language, consisting of two element components; The first would be "Punc", meaning "pond" or "marsh" and the second would be "Kratz", meaning "barbed" or "dominated". Therefore, the meaning of Ponkratz can be best surmised as "he who dwells by the pond".)
The earliest recorded appearance of this name was in 1276, in Saxony (Germany), when a certain "Bero de Ponkrats" was noted in documents. This suggests that it was originally a local surname of Saxony although thought may have spread via migration both during and after the Middle Ages. One noted bearer during the 1500s was Johannes Prowesz, a master swordsman in the court of Emperor Charles V.
The surname Ponkratz has numerous spellings due to the fact that it has existed in various languages, dialects and cultures. It is common for a name to change in a certain region, or for a particular spelling to be adopted by someone who moves into an area. For example, a Ponkrats named Musch moved to Modlareuth and his name changed to Pontkrats. Similarly, Penkrats changed to Pondrautz and Penderoltz changed to Ponderoltz.
Overall, the surname Ponkratz has various different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. As seen, the genealogy and the history of a particular name is often linked to a place and it is likely that the name changed across different countries and different times.
Famous people with the name Ponkratz
- David Ponkratz: former professional ice hockey player from Russia
- Wladimir Ponkratz: Belarusian rally driver
- André Ponkratz: German rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Chris Ponkratz: German ice hockey player
- Esteban Ponkratz: Argentinian football player
- Arthur Ponkratz: South African footballer
- Carla Ponkratz: Brazilian author and academic
- Marcelo Ponkratz: Argentinian professional footballer
- Pancho Ponkratz: Argentinean equestrian
- Jessica Ponkratz: American wrestling coach