Francke

Francke is a German surname and, in some contexts, a toponym associated with Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The name is most prominently linked to August Hermann Francke (1663–1727), a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and philanthropist who founded the Francke Foundations in Halle. These foundations established a significant network of educational and charitable institutions, including orphanages, schools, a publishing house, and teacher training, and they played a central role in the Pietist movement in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The Francke Foundations—also known as the Franckesche Stiftungen—grew from Francke’s early efforts and became a major center for education, social welfare, and religious instruction. Today, the organization continues as a charitable and educational institution that preserves historical buildings, maintains archives and museums, and supports research and outreach related to its historic mission.

The Francke name is also associated with places and heritage in Halle connected to the foundations, reflecting the enduring influence of Francke’s initiatives in the city. In contemporary usage, Francke remains a surname used by individuals in German-speaking regions and may appear in various placenames or compound designations linked to the historic Francke Foundations.

See also: Francke Foundations.