Surname Schalk - Meaning and Origin
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My iGENEA DNA test opened my eyes to a vivid tapestry of my past, showcasing an unexpected lineage and the historical significance of my surname, Schalk.
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read moreSchalk: What does the surname Schalk mean?
The last name Schalk is of German origin and commonly derived from the personal name Schalk, which is a short form of a given name beginning with the element ‘scalk’, meaning ‘servant’. It was used as an occupational name for someone employed as a servant or caretaker. In the Middle Ages, the Schalk name was a common and popular name for people employed as a servant.
The Schalk name may have originated with the medieval family of Schalken of North Holland, who were listed in 1573. It is also believed that the Schalk families which originated during the 13th century were of French origin. Over time, the Schalk name spread throughout Europe and eventually found its way to Britain and the United States.
Today, the Schalk surname is mostly associated with Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries, although it can be found all over the world. The name Schalk is not as common today as it once was, but it is still a popular surname in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.
The name Schalk is considered to be of German origin and is commonly associated with someone employed as a servant or caretaker. The Schalk surname has been popular for centuries and can be found all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSchalk: Where does the name Schalk come from?
The last name Schalk is most commonly found in Germany, Belgium, and Austria. In Germany, it is concentrated in the state of Bavaria, especially in the Upper Palatinate region. It is also common in the Netherlands. In Austria, the name is mostly found in the province of Tirol, although it is far less common than in the other countries.
Schalk is still a popular name in Germany, where it is estimated to be held by around 15,000 people. It is also found in relatively large numbers in Austria and the Netherlands, each having around 1,000-2,000 bearers of the name. In Belgium, Schalk is much less common, with an estimated figure of a few hundred.
Outside of Europe, the name is found in South Africa, where it has been adopted by generations of Dutch and German settlers. Here, the name is frequently found among Afrikaner families. It may also be encountered in other parts of the former British colonial empire, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Overall, Schalk is a relatively rare last name, although it is most commonly found in German-speaking countries. It is also popular among the Afrikaner and other Dutch-speaking people of South Africa.
Variations of the surname Schalk
The surname Schalk is a German patronymic surname originating from the personal name Schalk. Variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin include Schalke, Schulke, Schaulke, Schaalke, Schulken, Schalken, Schalko, Schalcko, Schalkowski, Schalckow, Schalck, Schulka, Schauka, Schauck, Schaulke, Schaulko and Schalkewitz.
Due to the many spelling variations of Schalk, the surname often appears as Schalck, Schalke, or Schalk when encountered in modern records. For example, the church records in Germany often register a person as one name, but other documents will list out all of the variants that form the same surname.
In some instances, Schalk as a surname may have arisen from the German adjective schalk, meaning “crafty” or “mischievous,” but more likely refers to the German personal name “Schalk,” which was derived from the Germanic elements “scalc,” meaning “servant,” and “wald,” meaning “ruler.”
People with the surname Schalk or one of its variants may have hailed from the area of modern Germany that was located to the west of the city of Magdeburg (the former East Germany) or from the North German states that were once part of the Holy Roman Empire.
In its various forms, the surname Schalk remains quite common within Germany, and has spread to many other countries, including Austria, The Netherlands, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Schalk
- Bert Schalk: Dutch football manager
- Carlos Schalk: Argentine footballer
- Christi Schalk: American television writer
- Dirk Schalk: Dutch politician
- Heinrich Schalk: German musicologist
- Karl Schalk: German internationally renowned painter
- Peter Schalk: Swedish theologian
- Adrian Schalk: Curacaoan professional baseball player
- Andries Schalk: South African cricketer
- Winnie Schalk: Danish cozy Jazz vocalist