Explore the Family Name Schenk
The meaning of Schenk
1. German and Dutch: from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke ‘cupbearer, wine server’ (from Old High German scenko, from scenken ‘to pour out or serve’), hence an occupational name for a cupbearer or server of wine. It also denotes an innkeeper. In another development, similar to English Butler, the word came to be used as an honorary title for a high court official, and some cases of the surname may have arisen from this use. The surname Schenk of German origin is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Hungary, Czechia, and Slovenia (see also 3 below). 2. Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an innkeeper, from German Schenke ‘inn, tavern’. At one time only Jews were allowed to sell alcohol in the Russian empire, which is why S(c)henk and its related surnames are very common as Jewish names. 3. Germanized form of Czech and Slovenian Šenk (see Senk), a surname of German origin (compare 1 above). Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Otto, Arno, Erwin, Gerhard, Hans, Lothar, Armin, Florian, Frieda, Fritz, Gottlieb.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Schenk in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Schenk saw a slight fluctuation in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 4342nd most popular surname in the United States, with 7575 individuals carrying that name. By 2010, the count rose marginally to 7651, translating to a modest growth of 1 percent. However, despite the increase in count, the surname slipped in rank to 4637th, marking a 6.79 percent drop in popularity. Furthermore, its proportion per 100,000 people fell by 7.83 percent, from 2.81 to 2.59.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,342 | #4,637 | -6.79% |
| Count | 7,575 | 7,651 | 1% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.81 | 2.59 | -7.83% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Schenk
The ethnicity distribution for the surname Schenk also underwent some changes between 2000 and 2010, as per the Decennial U.S. Census. The largest ethnic identity group remained those of White descent, making up 94.45 percent in 2010, down from 95.88 percent in 2000. There was a noticeable increase in individuals identifying as Hispanic, which climbed from 1.25 percent to 2.12 percent, reflecting a significant 69.60 percent change. Meanwhile, people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander went up by 42.59 percent, albeit from a low base of 0.54 percent to 0.77 percent. Those reporting their ethnicity as two or more races, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native constituted 1.66 percent, 0.67 percent, and 0.34 percent respectively of the individuals with the Schenk surname in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.88% | 94.45% | -1.49% |
| Hispanic | 1.25% | 2.12% | 69.6% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 1.66% | 25.76% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.54% | 0.77% | 42.59% |
| Black | 0.7% | 0.67% | -4.29% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.3% | 0.34% | 13.33% |
Schenk ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Schenk is French & German, which comprises 41.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (31.0%) and Eastern European (7.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 41.7% |
| British & Irish | 31.0% |
| Eastern European | 7.1% |
| Other | 20.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Schenk
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Schenk have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 71.60% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 71.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 71.60% |
What Schenk haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Schenk is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and J-M172, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Zimmermann, Schafer, Weber, Barth, Ott, Weaver, Meier, Pfeiffer, Keller, Kohler.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Schenk surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Schenk have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Schenk" Surname 46.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Schenk" Surname 29.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Schenk" Surname 22.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Schenk" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Schenk?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Schenk are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition