Domke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The Domke surname first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria, some time after the 12th century, when hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Domke is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Domke was given to someone who lived in Bavaria.

Early Origins of the Domke family

The surname Domke was first found in Bavaria, where this surname surfaced in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century onwards the name was associated with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Domke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Domke research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1635, 1644, 1655, 1663, 1669, 1670, 1704, 1709, 1721, 1728, 1746, 1775 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Domke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Domke Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Domke include Thoma, Thoman, Thom, Thoms, Toma, Thomas, Tomas, Thomasius, Thoeman, Thome, Thomen, Thomme, Thomm, Demel, Dehmel and many more.

Early Notables of the Domke family

Prominent among members of the name Domke in this period include Frederic Count de Thoms (1669-1746), a German art collector; Peter Lorenz Thomas von Langenhardt (mid 17th century), Secretary of the Johannite Order of knights at Sonnenburg; Christian Thomas (1655-1728, known as Thomasius)...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Domke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Domke family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Matheus Thomas, who sailed for America in 1709 with his wife and daughters. Heinrich Thomas also came in 1709; settling in Carolina of Pennsylvania. Johann Philip Thoma came to Philadelphia in 1764.

Contemporary Notables of the name Domke (post 1700) +

Lisa Domke, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 2004