The Lemke surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,501 people carried this name — #3,406 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 28,100 people counted. That is up 1% from 10,359 in 2000.

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In Poland’s population register

804 people named Lemke have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 987 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 14 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Pomeranian 458
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 118
Greater Poland 47
Warmian-Masurian 44
West Pomeranian 42
Silesian 25
Lubusz 13
Opole 12

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

92 people named Lemke live in Switzerland.

They live in 11 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 25
Thurgau 9
St. Gallen 8
Lucerne 8
Basel-Stadt 8
Basel-Landschaft 8
Bern 7
Aargau 7

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 46 people named Lemke.

23 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 6 départements, most often Moselle.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 23
Moselle 12
Paris 4
Bas-Rhin 3
Doubs 2
Aisne 1
Nord 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

120 people named Lemke is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 120

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In print

Lemke in American newspapers,
1921–1935.

Newspaper page from Stern Des Westlichen Ohio = Star Of Western Ohio carrying the name Lemke
Stern Des Westlichen Ohio = Star Of Western Ohio 1921-02-24
Newspaper page from The Sisseton Weekly Standard carrying the name Lemke
The Sisseton Weekly Standard 1921-10-28
Newspaper page from The Midland Journal carrying the name Lemke
The Midland Journal 1935-06-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 29,709 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lemke in Australian newspapers,
1850s–2010s.

1,701 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lemke. The most, 424, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 2.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 841
New South Wales 342
Queensland 223
South Australia 183
Western Australia 70
Tasmania 33
ACT (Canberra) 7
Northern Territory 1

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lemke.

Who carried it

People named Lemke,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Johann Philipp Lemke
    Johann Philipp Lemke 1631–1711 · artist
  • Otto Lemke
    Otto Lemke 1819–1900 · vicar
  • Elisabeth Lemke
    Elisabeth Lemke 1849–1925 · historian
  • Harald Lemke
    Harald Lemke 1855–1917 · military personnel
  • Michael K. Lemke
    Michael K. Lemke 1872–1923 · historian

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Otto Lemke: Unknown, CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 210 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lemke,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,008 records

2,008 records of the Lemke name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,268
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 285
  • Other U.S. records 455
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William E. Lemke

    Born 1919 in Germany. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; mechanic from Nassau County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1993, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George H. Lemke

    Born 1899 in Germany. Enlisted 1942 at Albany, New York; gardener from Rensselaer County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1974, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Emilie Lemke

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Main from Bremen, aged 16; servant. From Mozawce, Russia; bound for Jersey City.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,008 records for Lemke in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany2,464 records

2,464 records of the Lemke name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 2,438
  • German emigration and citizenship files 23
  • German estate files 3
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Emil Lemke

    Born 1889; from Buchwerder, Czarnikau. Reported missing in the Prussian casualty list of 3 February 1915; then reported wounded in the list of 3 January 1917 (Infantry Regiment No. 140).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Gottfried Lemke

    Emigrated to the United States in 1854.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Bernhard Lemke

    Estate settled in 1911.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0)

Showing 3 of 2,464 records for Lemke in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands699 records

699 records of the Lemke name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 336
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 301
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 62
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Petronella Lemke

    Married in 1853 in Diemen; seamstress. Died 1889 in Diemen, aged 69.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Wilhelmine Albertine Lemke

    Married in 1841 in Rheden; lady's maid. Died 1862 in Amersfoort, aged 66.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Klaas Lemke

    Married in 1835 in Barradeel; "turfmeter". Died 1837 in Pietersbierum, aged 64; "doodgraver".

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 699 records for Lemke in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia70 records

70 records of the Lemke name in Australia
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 27
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 21
  • Other Australian records 22
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Johannes Lemke

    Arrived in Queensland in 1872 aboard the Allardus, aged 29.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record George Lemke

    Enlisted in 1916. Honoured on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

    City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Reginald Ernest Lemke

    Retired of Albury, Victoria; died 1992.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 70 records for Lemke in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada16 records

16 records of the Lemke name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 7
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 4
  • Other Canadian records 5
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ferdinand Lemke

    Buried in 1999 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 101.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elsa Lemke

    Died 1998, aged 91; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Anna Lemke

    Died 1937; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 16 records for Lemke in Canada.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

France14 records

14 records of the Lemke name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Charles Lemke

    Born 1902 in Paris; died 1988 in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marguerite Salome Lemke

    Born 1910 in Eckwersheim; died 1996 in Bischwiller (Bas-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Bruno Lemke

    Born 1921 in Germany; died 1992 in Freyming-Merlebach (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Lemke in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

United Kingdom2 records

2 records of the Lemke name in the United Kingdom Stirling Council burial records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ai Lemke

    Died 1986, aged 67; buried at Dunblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 1 of 2 records for Lemke in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand1 record

1 record of the Lemke name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ann Lemke

    Died 1901, aged 39; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Finland1 record

1 record of the Lemke name in Finland Finland's war dead, 1939–1945
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Vasili Lemke

    Born 1920 in Sortavala; student. Died in 1941 during Finland's wars of 1939–1945; buried in Helsinki.

    Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lemke.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Lemke is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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