Jewish (Ashkenazic)[1] and German occupational surname derived from schenken (to pour out or serve) referring to the medieval profession of cup-bearer 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.[2][3]

People with this surname include:

People edit

Other edit

  • Schenck v. United States 249 U.S. 47 (1919), decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the right to free speech
  • Schenck Process is a German manufacturer of industrial equipment

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ https://dbs.anumuseum.org.il/skn/en/c6/e251136/Family_Name/SCHENCK
  2. ^ "Nederlandse Familienamenbank".
  3. ^ http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?te=5&surname=schenk [user-generated source]