Schenck is a German occupational surname, a variant of Schenk. The name originates from Middle High German schenke meaning "wine server" or "cup-bearer", derived from Old High German scenken ("to pour out"). Over time, it also came to refer to a tavern keeper. Among Ashkenazic Jews, the surname became particularly common because in the Russian Empire only Jews were permitted to sell alcohol, leading to variants like Shenk (Russian) and its later forms. Notable Bearers Notable individuals with the surname include: Adolph Schenck (1803–1878), German teacher and entomologist Aubrey Schenck (1908–1999), American film producer August Friedrich Schenck (1828–1901), German painter Carl Alwyn Schenck (1868–1955), German-American pioneer of forestry Charles Schenck, American socialist Ernst-Günther Schenck (1904–1998), German doctor accused of euthanasia in Nazi Germany Ferdinand Schureman Schenck (1790–1860), American physician and politician Distribution The surname is both German and Jewish (Ashkenazic). It is found in Germany and among descendants of German emigrants, especially in the United States. Related Names Variants include Schenk (without the optional 'c') and Shenk (Russian). The root meaning all relates to a server of wine or keeper of a tavern. Meaning: Wine server, cup-bearer, tavern keeper Origin: German occupational Type: Surname Usage Regions: Germany, Jewish diaspora, United States