Show ContentsFuncke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient and distinguished surname Funcke is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German "funke," meaning "spark," and was most likely originally used to denote a blacksmith. Alternatively, it may have originally been bestowed as a nickname to indicate a very lively person.

Early Origins of the Funcke family

The surname Funcke was first found in Baden, as well as the Rhineland and Pomerania, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the areas. The young Funcke family declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending its influence in struggles for power and status within the region. It branched into many houses, and its contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. The origins of the name make it likely that several branches of the Funcke family emerged independently in various areas of Germany. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was a knight called Funke, who was living in the town of Rüdesheim in 1280.

Early History of the Funcke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Funcke research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1504, 1539, 1642, 1646, 1666, 1699, 1723, 1736, 1746, 1786 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Funcke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Funcke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Funck, Funcke, Funcken, Funk, Funke, Funken, Funkh, Funckenheim, Funckner, Funkhauser and many more.

Early Notables of the Funcke family

Notables with the surname Funcke during this period were

  • Friedrich Funcke (1642-1699), a German composer from Nossen, Saxony


United States Funcke migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Funcke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter Funcke and his wife Anna Juliana Clemens, who emigrated from the Palatinate to New York in 1710 with two daughters Anna Catharina and Elisabetha
  • Joh Heinr Funcke, who landed in America in 1780 1
  • Zacharias Funcke, who arrived in America in 1780 1
Funcke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Freida W. Funcke, who settled in Galveston, Texas in 1868


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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