Schenk Family History

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Schenk Name Meaning

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. As a German name it also denotes a tavernkeeper. 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. 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 Shenk and its related surnames are very common.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Scheck, Schalk, Schrenk, Schoen, Scheid, Schunk, Schenker, Schenkel

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Schenk Ethnicity Estimate

What are the common regions with the Schenk name?

These results combine data from everyone in the AncestryDNA® database with the last name Schenk. The Ancestry® ethnicity regions shown are top five most common on average for these people.

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  • England & Wales

    39%

  • Germanic Europe

    19%

  • Ireland & Scotland

    13%

  • Eastern Europe & Russia

    7%

  • Norway

    4%

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Schenk Family Origin

Where is the Schenk family from?

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You can see how Schenk families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Schenk family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Schenk families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 16 Schenk families living in London. This was about 36% of all the recorded Schenk's in the UK. London had the highest population of Schenk families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Schenk surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Schenk

Schenk Family Occupations

What did your Schenk ancestors do for a living?

In 1881, Civil Engineer, Accountant and Clerk General Merchants were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Schenk. The most common Schenk occupation in the UK was Civil Engineer. 22% of Schenk's were Civil Engineers. A less common occupation for the Schenk family was Jeweller Employs 2 Boys.

View Census data for Schenk | Data not to scale

  • Civil Engineer

    22%

  • Accountant

    11%

  • Clerk General Merchants

    11%

  • Jeweller Employs 2 Boys

    11%

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your Schenk ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

Schenk Historical Records

What Schenk family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 34,000 census records available for the last name Schenk. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Schenk census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search 1891 UK census records for Schenk

Passenger List

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Schenk. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Schenk immigration records

Draft Card

There are 17,000 military records available for the last name Schenk. For the veterans among your Schenk ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Schenk military records

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Schenk Life Expectancy

What is the average Schenk lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Schenk life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1955. The average life expectancy for Schenk in 1942 was 54, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Schenk

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Schenk ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Famous Schenk Family Ancestors

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