Schwenke is a German surname of occupational or descriptive origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German verb swenken, meaning "to swing" or "to sway," which likely referred to someone who operated a swinging device, such as a winch or a crane, or perhaps a person with a swinging gait. The root swenken is related to the modern German schwenken (to swing or to rinse).As a German surname, Schwenke is an example of a Berufsname (occupational name) common in the German-speaking regions. It may also have been a nickname for a lively or restless person, based on the physical action. The surname is most frequently found in Germany, with a particular concentration in the northern and eastern regions, such as Saxony, Thuringia, and Berlin.Variants of Schwenke include Schwenk, Schwencke, and Schwengel. The name can also be found in neighboring countries, especially among German diaspora communities in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, where thousands of German immigrants settled in the 19th and 20th centuries.Meaning: Middle High German swenken – "to swing"Origin: GermanType: Occupational surname or nicknameUsage regions: Germany (especially Saxony and Berlin), German diaspora