Surname Sloanaker - Meaning and Origin
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Sloanaker: What does the surname Sloanaker mean?
The origin of the last name Sloanaker has been controversial amongst researchers, as it has been attributed to several different source languages. It is believed to be a combination of two German words - “Sloan” meaning “wise” and “aker” which means “field”. It is likely that it originated as a name used to describe someone from a wise family or a wise landowner. It has also been suggested that the name may have derived from the Gaelic words “sluagh” meaning army and “an-eaglair” which refers to a leader. Further speculation has implicated German or Dutch origins, as sources indicate that it was a variation of the Dutch name “Schlonecker” or the German name “Schloner”.
Interestingly, though its origin is mainly European, the surname appears to have been relatively common in the US since the late 1700s. The estimated population of Sloanakers in the US during 2000 was 8,617, and it peaked at 9,016 in the year 2010, which points to the increasing prevalence of the name in the country.
Today, it is still difficult to determine the exact origin of the Sloanaker name, as there is much debate about which language it truly derives from. What is certain, however, is that it is an enduring name which has enabled its holders to pass down their legacy from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisSloanaker: Where does the name Sloanaker come from?
The last name Sloanaker is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. The origin of the name is most likely German, and it is believed to be derived from a personal name of Schonlacher, which means “handsome lake”.
The earliest recorded usage of the surname dates back to 1753, when Johannes Schonlacher was recorded in the birth records of Hewitt Township, Pennsylvania. The vast majority of people bearing the Sloanaker name in the US today are descendants of this man.
The concentration of Sloanaker families is particularly high in the state of Maine, where one in every 1,189 people bears that name. In Michigan, it is one in every 11,551; in Pennsylvania, one in every 10,789; and in New York, one in every 10,976.
Outside of the United States, Sloanaker is a rare surname. The name is found mostly in Germany, where one in every 37,380 people bears the surname. It is also found in the Netherlands, with one in every 397,951 people bearing that name.
Despite its rarity around the world, the Sloanaker name has maintained a strong presence in the United States for centuries. In particular, the US states of Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York have the highest concentration of people bearing this unique surname.
Variations of the surname Sloanaker
The surname Sloanaker is of Scottish and Northern Irish origin. Variants of the surname include Sloaneaker, Sloanacker, Sloannels, Sloans, Sloanes, Slownaker, Slowenaker, Slowannaker, and Slaenaker. These variants are generally accepted spellings of the same origin and appear in numerous records.
The variant spelling Sloanes is an Anglicized version of the original Scottish surname. It was often used as an additional variation of Sloanaker by Scottish immigrants to make the pronunciation of the name easier for non-Scots.
The variant spelling Sloannel is thought to have made its way to Ulster (Northern Ireland) from Scotland centuries ago. It can also be found with Slaenaker and Slannaker in records of the same region.
It is likely that the variants were adopted as families moved around and inter-married. Sloannaker, in particular, has Scottish roots and appears in several records in Scotland. It also has Irish connections and can be traced back to a family in Armagh, with the notation of 'formerly Sloanaker' in some records.
In conclusion, the surname Sloanaker has variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants are Sloaneaker, Sloanacker, Sloannels, Sloans, Sloanes, Slownaker, Slowenaker, Slowannaker, and Slaenaker. Variants such as Sloans and Sloanes are likely the result of Anglicization, whereas Sloannaker and Slaenaker are specific to Scotland and Ireland, respectively.
Famous people with the name Sloanaker
- Davey Sloanaker: Professional golfer and PGA Tour Player on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- Demi Sloanaker: Award-winning journalist and creator of the phenomenally successful podcast "A Deconstructed world".
- Robert Sloanaker: NASCAR NASCAR driver and 2009 Daytona 500 winner.
- Bryan Sloanaker: Actor best known for his role in the Disney Channel original movie "Starstruck".
- Laura Sloanaker: Award-winning playwright and scriptwriter.
- Gregg Sloanaker: Emmy Award-winning director and producer.
- Danny Sloanaker: Award-winning standup comedian and actor.
- Brooke Sloanaker: Olympic gold medal gymnast and member of the 2016 Team USA.
- Danica Sloanaker: Professional snowboarder and gold medal winner at the 2019 Winter X Games.
- Rachel Sloanaker: Professional ballerina and principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.