Funk History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

The name Funk is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources. As a Jewish surname, the name Funk derives from a variety of sources. It is thought to have been an occupational name, deriving from the German word finch, which referred to the bird, and would have been given to someone who raised or sold finches. Another possible origin is from the female given name Finkle, which was a popular name in medieval Germany. It could also be an ornamental surname deriving from the Old German word finkelstein, which means diamond. Lastly, the name could be derived from the Yiddish word funk, which meant spark. The word funkenstein translates as sparkle stone, or diamond.

Funk Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: finkleman and others.

Funk Ranking

In the United States, the name Funk is the 1,448^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Funk is ranked the 807^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,669 people with that name. 2

Funk migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Funk Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Funk, who arrived in America in 1731 3
Samuel Funk, who arrived in America in 1731 3
Hendrick Funk, aged 36, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 3
Anna Funk, who settled in Philadelphia in 1738
George Funk, aged 27, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Funk Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Frederick Funk, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 3
Bernhard Funk, who landed in North America in 1837 3
Valentin Funk, who landed in North America in 1837 3
Johannes Funk, who arrived in North America in 1838 3
Adam Funk, who landed in Mississippi in 1841 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Funk migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Funk Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Anganetha Krahn and Isaak Funk, who were recorded to be living in Québec in 1874
Abraham Funk, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
Johan Funk, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
Peter Funk, who landed in Manitoba in 1874
Peter Funk, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Funk (post 1700) +

Terrence "Terry" Funk (1944-2023), American professional wrestler, known for the longevity of his career which spanned more than 50 years, one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time
Mary Wallace "Wally" Funk (b. 1939), American aviator, the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, the first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female Federal Aviation Agency inspector, as well as one of the Mercury 13
Brigadier-General Arnold John Funk (1895-1980), American Commandant of Camp Edwards (1952) 4
Corporal Jesse Nathaniel Funk (1888-1933), United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor
Isaac Kauffman Funk (1839-1912), American publisher and co-founder of Funk & Wagnalls Co. in 1891 which was best known for its Standard Dictionary of the English Language (1893)
Joseph Funk (1778-1862), pioneer American music teacher and publisher
Dory Funk (1919-1973), American professional wrestler
Christian Funk (1731-1811), American Mennonite bishop and author
Leonard A Funk (1916-1992), highly decorated American soldier awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Croix de Guerre during WWII 5
Lorenz Funk Sr. (1947-2017), German bronze medalist ice hockey player who played for the West German national team
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Funk family +

RMS Titanic

Miss Annie Clemmer Funk (d. 1912), aged 38, Indian Second Class passenger from Janjgir-Champa, India who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 6

USS Arizona

Mr. Frank Francis Funk, American Boatswain's Mate Second Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7
Mr. Lawrence Henry Funk, American Seaman First Class from Wisconsin, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 7

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
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)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 5) Arnold Funk. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Funk/Arnold_John/USA.html
World War 2 Awards.com - FUNK, Leonard. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Leonard Funk. Retrieved from http://www.ww2awards.com/person/835
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html