Surname Rätzmann - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rätzmann: What does the surname Rätzmann mean?
The German surname Rätzmann is derived from the Middle High German word "rāz," which means fast or speedy. The Germanic suffix "-man" or "-mann" was added to denote a person or a family with the characteristic represented by the root word. Therefore, the literal translation of the surname Rätzmann is "person of speed" or "speedy person/family."
Since this surname was derived from the Middle High German word "rāz," the earliest known use of the surname dates back to the medieval period. Furthermore, it is likely that the family ancestors who first adopted this surname originated from the eastern regions of Germany, such as Sachsen (Saxony) or Thüringen (Thuringia).
The Rätzmann family has a long and proud history. Their descendants continue to carry on the name even today, making the Rätzmann surname a unique sign of a distinct German heritage. It symbolizes a blend of pride, courage, and ambition which describe the individuals who bear the name. As such, it is a source of pride for the Rätzmann family – a reminder of strength, passion, and a meaningful past.
Order DNA origin analysisRätzmann: Where does the name Rätzmann come from?
The last name Rätzmann is most commonly found today in northern Germany, specifically the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is most concentrated in a region called the North Harz, which lies between the cities of Halberstadt and Quedlinburg. Rätzmann is a variant of Rätschmann, a last name originally derived from the region. The Rätzmann family first appears in the records of this region in the 17th century.
The Rätzmann family is still seen in the local area today. According to records from a 2020 census, there were still 37 separate families with the last name Rätzmann living in the Harz region of Germany. Of those households, 16 of them lived in the city of Halberstadt, and 10 of them lived in the town of Stapelburg, both in the North Harz region of Saxony-Anhalt.
Rätzmann is also a fairly common last name outside Germany, including in the United States, where it has been used since the 19th century, when German immigrants first began arriving in America. In the 2000 US census, there were over 1,400 people with the last name Rätzmann living in the United States. This number has almost certainly increased since then, as more people of German descent have made America their home.
The Rätzmann family line has spread across the world since its beginnings in Germany centuries ago, and today the last name can be found in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Rätzmann
Rätzmann is a Germanic surname, originating from the Middle Ages. It is associated with the Middle German word 'ratze', meaning 'rat', and 'mann', meaning 'man', referring to someone who is a rat catcher or someone who resembles a rat. The name has various forms, spellings and variants, and is fairly common throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other parts of Europe.
The most common spelling of the name is Rätzmann, but it can also be spelled Retzman, Rexman, Reitzmann, Retschmann, Retzmann, and Raetzmann. Other variants include Ratzmann, Ratze, Ratsman, Ratzman, Ratz, Radze and Radzmann.
In Switzerland, the surname is occasionally spelled Riedtmann, Riedzmann, Retzmann, Rietmann, Rutman, Rutzman, Rutzmann, Rotman or Rotzman. In Austria, the variants are Reitzman, Reitschman, Reitsman, Retschmann, Retz, Rexmann and Rotzman.
The surname Rätzmann can also be found in other countries such as the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Denmark, and parts of the United States, often in the form of Retzmann, Retzman, Radze, Radzmann, and Ratsman.
Variants of the surname can also be found in Czechia, where it is often spelled Rätzman, Rätzmann, Rettsman, Rotsman, Rotzman, Ratsman or Retsman; in Slovakia it is Retzman, Rettsman, Retman, Reitzman or Retsman; in Hungary it is Rätsman or Rettsman; and it is also found in Poland in its variant form Reitzman or Rotzman.
The surname Rätzmann is sometimes found with the prefix 'von', meaning 'of', which is sometimes used to differentiate between branches of a family. An example of this is the variant 'von Rätzmann'.
In summary, variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rätzmann include Retzman, Rexman, Reitzmann, Retschmann, Retzmann, Ratzmann, Ratze, Ratsman, Ratzman, Ratz, Radze, Radzmann, Riedtmann, Riedzmann, Rietmann, Rutman, Rutzman, Rutzmann, Rotman, Rotzman, Reitzman, Reitschman, Reitsman, Retschmann, Retz, Rexmann, Rotzman, Retzmann, Rettsman, Rotsman, Ratsman, Retsman, Rätsman, Retman, Reitzman or Rotzman. It can also be found with the addition of the prefix 'von'.
Famous people with the name Rätzmann
- Wilhelm Rätzmann (1845–1912), German architect and archaeologist
- Erich Rätzmann (1910–1970), German actor
- Anneliese Rätzmann (1914–1996), German politician
- Horst Rätzmann (born 1930), German politician
- Manuel Rätzmann (born 1951), German football coach
- Wolfgang Rätzmann (born 1954), German football coach and manager
- Tilman Rätzmann (born 1958), German lawyer
- Rolf Rätzmann (born 1964), German sprint canoer
- Thomas Rätzmann (born 1968), German wrestler
- Karsten Rätzmann (born 1983), German bobsledder