German suffix KE/KA of last names hint at Slavic roots

[rashka]

The suffix -ke/ka—as in Rilke, Kafka, Krupke, Mielke, Renke, Schoepke—hints at Slavic roots. Such names, often considered "German" today, stem from the eastern parts of Germany and former German territory spreading eastward from Berlin (itself a Slavic name) into today's Poland and Russia, and northward into Pomerania (Pommern, and another dog breed: Pomeranian). The Slavic -ke suffix is similar to the Germanic -sen or -son, indicating patrilinear descent—from the father, son of. (Other languages used prefixes, as in the Fitz-, Mac-, or O' found in Gaelic regions.) But in the case of the Slavic -ke, the father's name is usually not his Christian or given name (Peter-son, Johann-sen) but an occupation, characteristic, or location associated with the father (krup = "hulking, uncouth" + ke = "son of" = Krupke = "son of the hulking one").

[Panzerfaust]

Jo, das wäre gar nicht überraschend. Man hört das auch z.B. in Ukraine, wo die Namen öfters so lauten, z.B. Tscherewko.

[Žołnir]

Its not just -ko in Tscherewko that is so Slavic its indeed entirely uber Tschucher surname.

[Geminus]

Yes, we realized there lived some Slavs. But they were friendly enough to integrate themselves into the German nation

[Corvus]

This theory does not hold any truth Rashka, there are Slavic surnames in Germany, but they are different

[JanPulja]

Clearly east of the Elbe/Laba it's heavily Slavic, but aren't some -ke's Germanic in origin? Like the diminutive suffix -ke/-che correspondingly Low/High German?

[Corvus]

Clearly east of the Elbe/Laba it's heavily Slavic, but aren't some -ke's Germanic in origin? Like the diminutive suffix -ke/-che correspondingly Low/High German?

Exactly, like Janke, Schalke, Lutke, Matzke, Wilke etc.

[Permafrost]

Yes, we realized there lived some Slavs. But they were friendly enough to integrate themselves into the German nation

You speak as if you intended to give them any choice on the matter

[Geminus]

You speak as if you intended to give them any choice on the matter

I think they didn't have much choice, but at this time people weren't that nationalistic, so they rather adapted to the customs/language of the state or ruling class.

[Chichic]

-ke can be both Slavic and German! It's a very common German suffix. For example, the German first names Elke or Heike and the German last names Papke or Vattke are not of Slavic origin, but I would assume Konnopke (Konnopka) is of Slavic origin.