Summary

The surname Funk is of German origin and derives from the Middle High German word 'funke', meaning spark. It is believed to have originally been a nickname for a person who was lively, energetic, or enthusiastic. The surname has a rich history and has spread to various countries around the world.
There are
24419
Funks in the USA
Funk is the
1459th
most common last name in the USA

Historical figures and celebrities called Funk

IsaacFunk

Isaac Funk was an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois.

HermanMelville

Herman Melville Funk was an American linguist and minister who wrote extensively on the subject of language.

WilhelmFunk

Wilhelm Funk was a German politician and Nazi official who served as the Reich Minister for Economy during World War II.

IshmaelFunk

Ishmael Funk was an American journalist and publisher who founded the Funk & Wagnalls Company, a well-known publishing house.

HenryFunkhouser

Henry Funkhouser was an American astronomer known for his work on the measurement of stellar parallax and the determination of stellar distances.

ClarenceFunk

Clarence Funk was an American football player and coach who played in the National Football League and later became a successful coach.

JosephFunk

Joseph Funk was an American composer and hymn writer who is considered one of the pioneers of shape note singing in the United States.

JacobFunk

Jacob Funk was a Swiss-American painter known for his landscape and genre scenes depicting rural life in Switzerland and the United States.

EdgarFunk

Edgar Funk was a Canadian politician who served as an Member of Parliament and as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Canada.

HaroldFunk

Harold Funk was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Funk Foundation for International Peace and served as its president.

Funk Genealogy

OriginsThe surname 'Funk' is of German origin and is derived from the German word 'funke', which means 'spark'. It was originally a nickname for someone with a fiery or lively personality.
Geographic DistributionThe surname 'Funk' is most commonly found in Germany and the United States. It is also found in smaller numbers in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland and Austria.
VariationsVariations of the surname 'Funk' include 'Fünck', 'Funck', and 'Funcke'.
Migration and ImmigrationThe name 'Funk' has been carried by immigrants to the United States, particularly in the 19th century when many Germans immigrated to America. It is also found among the descendants of German immigrants in other countries.