Menke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The origin of the name is the southern German form "Meinhardt," which is a compound of "strength" (Mein) and "bravery" (Hardt).

Early Origins of the Menke family

The surname Menke was first found in Pomerania, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. Chronicles first mention Meyne Meynen of Barth in Pomerania in 1415, and Heinrich Meyneking of Hanover in 1311. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Menke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Menke research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1350, 1704, 1727, 1775, 1797 and 1851 are included under the topic Early Menke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Menke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meinecke, Meincke, Meinke, Meineken, Meineking, Meinhard, Meinhold, Meininger, Meinart, Meinert, Meinhardt, Mein, Meine, Meinen, Meins, Meiner, Main, Mains, Mainer and many more.

Early Notables of the Menke family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Menke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Menke Ranking

In the United States, the name Menke is the 6,903^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Menke migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Menke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A Menke, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 2
Adelh Menke, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 2
Claus Menke, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 2
Friedrich Menke, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 2
Joh Menke, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Menke (post 1700) +

Sebastian G. Menke (1910-2002), American priest and academic, 10th President of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa from 1964 to 1973
Sally JoAnne Menke (1953-2010), American film and television editor who had a long-time collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino
Frank Grant Menke (1885-1954), American newspaper reporter, author, and sports historian for the Hearst Newspapers from 1912 to 1932
Bill Menke, American former basketball player, an NCAA All-American at Indiana University, inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988
Denis John Menke (b. 1940), American Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1962 to 1974, two-time All-Star (1969, 1970)
Lester D. Menke (1918-2016), American politician, Member of the Iowa House of Representatives (1973-1985)
Karl Theodor Menke (1791-1861), German malacologist and balneologist
Carl Menke (b. 1906), German silver medalist field hockey player at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Heinrich Theodor Menke (1819-1892), German geographer, the island group Menkeøyane in the Svalbard archipelago is named in his honor
Franziska "Frl." Menke (b. 1960), German singer

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)