Schenk is a Jewish (Ashkenazic) and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

occupational surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

derived from ''schenken'' (to pour out or serve) referring to the medieval profession of

cup-bearer A cup-bearer was historically an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty was to pour and serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues (such as poisoning), a person must have been regarded as ...

or wine server (later also to tavern keeper). At one time, only Jews were allowed to sell alcohol in the Russian empire, which is why Shenk (Russian) and its later surname variants are very common.http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?te=5&surname=schenk People with this surname include: * Ard Schenk (born 1944), Dutch speed skater (see also: Ard Schenk Award) *

August Schenk Joseph August Schenk (17 April 1815, in Hallein – 30 March 1891, in Leipzig) was an Austrian-born, German botanist and paleobotanist. In 1837 he obtained his medical doctorate from the University of Munich, followed by studies in botany at ...

(1815–1891), German botanist and paleobotanist * Beatrice Schenk de Regniers (1914–2000), American children's writer and illustrator * Bel Schenk (born 1975), Australian poet *

Bert Schenk Bert Schenk (born 14 November 1970 in Berlin, Germany) was a German boxer. Professional career Schenk turned pro in 1996 and won the WBO Middleweight Title on 30 January 1999 against Freeman Barr by 4th-round TKO. Otis Grant had vacated the be ...

(born 1970), German boxer * Berthold von Schenk (1895–1974), American Lutheran pastor * Charles Schenk Bradley (1853–1929), American electrical engineer, inventor, pioneer of early electric motors *

Christian Schenk Christian Schenk (; born 9 February 1965 in Rostock, East Germany) is a former decathlete who competed for East Germany and Germany. He won the gold medal in the decathlon in the 1988 Summer Olympics, held in Seoul, South Korea. Sc ...

(born 1965), East German decathlete * Dieter Schenk (born 1937), German author and police officer *

Francis Joseph Schenk Francis Joseph Schenk (April 1, 1901 – October 28, 1969) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota (1945–1960) and bishop of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota (1960� ...

(1901–1969), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church *

Franziska Schenk Franziska Schenk (born 13 March 1974) is a former German speed skater. She was a specialist in the sprint distances (500 and 1000 m). At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, she won a bronze on the 500 m in Vikingskipet at Hamar Hamar is ...

(born 1974), German speed skater * Fritz Schenk (1930-2006), German journalist *

Georg Schenk von Limpurg Georg Schenk von Limpurg (1470–1522) was the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg from 1505 to 1522. Biography Georg Schenk von Limpurg was born in Obersontheim in 1470. He was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg on 13 February 1505, with Pope Julius II ...

, (1470–1522), Prince-Bishop of Bamberg *

Gretchen Knief Schenk Gretchen Knief Schenk (October 1, 1901 – May 16, 1989) was an American librarian, who served as Washington State Librarian from 1942 to 1945, and as president of the Alabama Library Association from 1949 to 1950. She was inducted into the Calif ...

(1901–1989), American librarian * Hanne Schenk (born 1984), Swiss bobsledder * Hans Schenk (athlete) (1936-2006), German javelin thrower *

Hans Schenk (economist) E.J.J. (Hans) Schenk is a Dutch professor emeritus of economics and fellow of the Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute at Utrecht University’s School (NE) of Economics (USE) of which he was founding director. He was a Crown-appointed independ ...

, Dutch economist *

Heinz Schenk Heinz Schenk (11 December 1924 – 1 May 2014) was a German television moderator and actor. He was born in Mainz. Life Since 1951 Schenk worked for Hessischer Rundfunk as television moderator. In Germany he became famous for his television ...

(1924-2014), German television moderator *

Henk Schenk Hendrik "Henk" Schenk (born 29 April 1945 in Wieringerwaard) is an American former wrestler who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad ...

(born 1945), Dutch-born American wrestler *

Isobel Schenk Isobel May "Mysie" Schenk, BEM (''née'' Johnston; 10 January 1898 – 6 October 1980) was a Christian missionary who worked for many years alongside her husband, Rev. Rodolphe Samuel Schenk (1888–1969), at the Mount Margaret Mission in Wester ...

(1898–1980), Australian Christian missionary *

Jakob Schenk Jakob Schenk (31 March 1921 – 22 April 1951) was a Swiss cyclist. He competed in the individual and team road race events at the 1948 Summer Olympics. He also rode in the 1949 Giro d'Italia The 1949 Giro d'Italia was the 32nd Giro d'Ita ...

(1921-1951), Swiss cyclist *

Johan Schenk Johannes Schenck (or Johan Schenk, 3 June 1660–after 1712) was a Dutch musician and composer. Schenck was born in Amsterdam and baptized in a Catholic hidden church. He became a renowned virtuoso viola da gamba player. His compositions includ ...

(1660 – after 1712), Dutch musician and composer *

Johann Baptist Schenk Johann Baptist Schenk (30 November 1753 – 29 December 1836) was an Austrian composer and teacher. Schenk was born in Wiener Neustadt. While still a boy he composed songs, dances and symphonies, and became a proficient violinist and keyboa ...

(1753–1836), Austrian composer *

Josephus Schenk Josephus Schenk (born 19 August 1980, in Zutphen) is a former Dutch professional darts player. Career Schenk began playing in the Professional Darts Corporation made his PDC World Darts Championship debut in 2005 where he defeated American Dar ...

(born 1980), Dutch darts player *

Juliane Schenk Juliane Schenk (born 26 November 1982) is a German badminton player. In March 2014 she retired from international play. Career In 2001, she won the European Junior Championships in women's singles. 2003 saw her win the women's doubles with Ni ...

(born 1982), German badminton player *

Juraj Schenk Juraj Schenk (born May 6, 1948) is former Foreign Minister of Slovakia from 1994 to 1996 in cabinet of Vladimír Mečiar. Schenk studied sociology at the Univezita Komenského, Bratislava and is working there since 1972. In 1994 he became a ...

(born 1948), Slovak government minister * Karl Schenk (1823–1895), Swiss pastor and politician * Leopold Schenk (1840–1902), Austrian embryologist *

Lynn Schenk Lynn Alice Schenk (born January 5, 1945) is an American politician and lawyer from California. A Democrat, she served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. Biography Schenk was born in 1945, in the Bronx, t ...

(born 1945), American (Californian) politician *

Nick Schenk Nick Schenk (born November 12, 1965) is an American screenwriter known for writing the Clint Eastwood-directed feature film ''Gran Torino'' in 2008 for which he won Best Original Screenplay from the National Board of Review.AwardsBest Origin ...

(born 1965), American screenwriter *

Otto Schenk Otto Schenk (born 12 June 1930, in Vienna) is an Austrian actor, and theater and opera director. Life and career Schenk was born to Catholic parents. His father, a lawyer, had Jewish roots and therefore lost his job after the Anschluss in 1938. ...

(born 1930), Austrian actor *

Pavel Schenk Pavel Schenk (born 27 June 1941) is a Czech former volleyball player who competed for Czechoslovakia in the 1964 Summer Olympics, in the 1968 Summer Olympics, and in the 1972 Summer Olympics. He was born in Borotín, Blansko District Blansko ...

(born 1941), Czech volleyball player *

Peter Schenk the Elder Petrus Schenck, or Pieter, or Peter Schenk the Elder (baptized: 26 December 1660 – between 12 August and 17 November 1711 in Leipzig) was a German engraver and cartographer active in Amsterdam and Leipzig.Peter Schenk the Younger (1693–1775), Dutch engraver and map publisher *

Rodolphe Samuel Schenk Rodolphe Samuel Schenk (29 October 1888, Macorna, Victoria – 7 August 1969) was an Australian missionary. He attended a New South Wales interdenominational theological college and in 1917 joined the United Aborigines' Mission. From Walgett, wh ...

(1888–1969), Australian Christian missionary * Xandro Schenk (born 1993), Dutch footballer ;Schenk von Stauffenberg : *

Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (; 15 November 1907 – 21 July 1944) was a German army officer best known for his 20 July plot, failed attempt on 20 July 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the Wolf's Lai ...

(1907–1944), German army officer, aristocrat and resistance member * For his relatives, see the Stauffenberg family

References

{{Authority control Dutch-language surnames German-language surnames

See also

References