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.
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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Funcke research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1723, 1836, 1504, 1539, 1642, 1699, 1666, 1746, 1736 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Funcke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Funck, Funcke, Funcken, Funk, Funke, Funken, Funkh, Funckenheim, Funckner, Funkhauser and many more.
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Funcke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.