Surname Frenko - Meaning and Origin
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Frenko: What does the surname Frenko mean?
The last name Frenko is of Polish origin. The surname comes from the word "franek" which is of multiple meanings. It may refer to a person who was known to be a free man, or it could have been used as a nickname for someone who was kind and protective. It can also mean "fox," thus suggesting that the original bearer was noted for their slyness and cunning.
This particular last name is believed to have many variations, including Frenek, Frąk, Frenki, Frenkel, and Frinke. There is speculation that these changes in spelling occurred due to continual interaction between different cultures, when language barriers caused changes in the transliteration of words.
Today, the last name Frenko is most commonly associated with families who originate from countries such as Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia. The traditional meaning of the name may still exist in the modern day, with the loved ones of Frenko family members referring to them as both protective and sly.
The Frenko last name is one that is steeped in history and age-old meanings. It's a meaningful surname, indicative of the generations of influence and culture in the cities and countries where the original families of Frenko were based.
Order DNA origin analysisFrenko: Where does the name Frenko come from?
The last name Frenko is most commonly found today in the countries of Slovenia and Croatia. It is an old and traditional Central European surname, of Slavic origin, and it is one of the oldest surnames in Slovenia. The surname Frenko is especially common in or near cities such as Ljubljana, Maribor, and Zagreb. According to some sources, the name might also be of Slovenian Jewish origin, from the Hebrew last name 'Levinsky'.
Though the origin of the name Frenko is unclear, one thing is certain: it's become a popular last name in Slovenia and Croatia today. The precise origin and meaning of the name Frenko is also not known, however it could be derived from the Dutch term "frenken" which translates to "fringe." It also carries a similarity to the word "friend," suggesting the name could have been derived from the phrase, "friends forever."
Over time, the Frenko last name has become more widespread, and today, it can be seen in other countries beyond Croatia and Slovenia. In the United States, for instance, the name is especially popular in California, Texas, and New York, according to the most recent census data. In other parts of the world such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the surname is still relatively uncommon though its visibility is gradually increasing. In short, the surnames Frenko is still concentrated around Central Europe but it is increasingly found in other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Frenko
Frenko is a spelling of the surname Frenke or Frenko, which is derived from the German term “Fenker”, meaning one who serves or works in a kitchen. This surname was found in various regions of Central and Eastern Europe during the mid 1800s.
Variants of the surname Frenko include Finkle, Fink, Fenk, Fencke, Fenckel, Franks, Frenkel, Franko, Frenkel, and Frenk. All of these variants are alternate spellings of the same surname.
The surname Frenko can also be found as a patronymic, which is a surname derived from a given name. The given name that can be used to form a patronymic using the Frenko surname include Frenk, Frank, Frantisek, and Franz. Spelling variants of the patronymic surname include Frankel, Francisco, Franckevic, and Frankewich.
The surnames Frenke, Franco, and Francke can be found in other languages. In Dutch, the surnames Frenken and Franko are derived from the base surname of Frenke. In Spanish, the surname Franco is derived from the same source. In Lithuania, the surname Francke can also be found.
In conclusion, the surname Frenko has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Finkle, Fink, Fenk, Fencke, Fenckel, Franks, Frenkel, Franko, Frenkel, Frenk, Frankel, Francisco, Franckevic, Frankewich, Frenken, Franko, and Francke.
Famous people with the name Frenko
- Mark Frenko: An American football coach who is currently the special teams quality control coach for the University of Wisconsin-Madison football team
- Beata Franek: A Polish professional tennis player who has won 18 doubles titles on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour
- Alexander Frenko: A Belarusian political figure, journalist, and businessman
- Fabian Franek: A German alpine skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics and placed 18th in the giant slalom
- Henrik Frenko: A Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Linköping HC
- Timur Frenko: A Russian ice hockey player who played in 42 games for the Russian Under-18 team in 2012-2013
- Lyudmila Frenko: A Ukrainian track and field athlete who specializes in the long jump and triple jump
- Karol Frenko: A Slovak slalom canoeist who won the silver medal in the C-2 event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Kris Frenko: A Canadian stage actress and singer who has acted in several Broadway-style musicals
- Viktor Frenko: A Ukrainian former football player who played for several clubs in his native country and is currently the head coach of FC Shakhtar Donetsk