Surname Reck - Meaning and Origin
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R. Reck
read moreReck: What does the surname Reck mean?
The last name Reck originates from Old German-speaking areas of Central Europe. It is derived from the old Germanic word reke, meaning “ruler”, and is believed to have been created for families with an ancestry prominent in the political or social spheres.
Reck is also a surname that has been adopted by families of a more humble origin as it applies to those who are farmers or tradesmen. It was and is still used to denote those who are responsible, diligent and reliable in their work.
The surname Reck is still present in many countries across the world today, both in its modern form or as a variation. In Germany, it is the 393rd most common name, with nearly 5,000 people bearing it. In the Netherlands it is the 767th most common name, and is present with slightly over 400 people living there. The name is also popular in the United States, where more than 3,500 people share the surname.
Those with the surname Reck today usually have an ancestry closely associated with Germany or Europe. However, the name is found in other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries. Whatever its history, Reck stands for responsibility and reliability, traits still respected and admired by many.
Order DNA origin analysisReck: Where does the name Reck come from?
The last name Reck is an ancient and distinguished surname most common in Germany. Due to its origins, it is found in many regions of Europe, but primarily in Germany where its most numerous descendants are located today. It is believed to have gained popularity near or in the city of Recklinghausen, located somewhere between present day North Rhine-Westphalia and the Dutch Province of Limburg.
Due to its proximity to the Dutch border, the Reck surname has also been known to penetrate the Dutch provinces of Limburg and Brabant, as well as Belgium and Luxembourg.
In addition to its prominence in Europe, the Reck surname is also found in the United States, mainly in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Surprisingly, it is also found at a much smaller scale in Mexico, likely due to a small but highly interesting migration of people of German descent in the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas.
The Reck surname is not among the most common last names in the world, but it certainly has an interesting past and many present-day successors located mainly in Europe with some additional branches across the Atlantic.
Variations of the surname Reck
The surname Reck is a Germanic variant of the personal name Regin, which refers to the king. Variations, spellings, and surnames of this origin include:
Reck, Reick, Reik, Reeck, Reecke, Reicke, Reike, Rieck, Riecken, Riecke, Rieke, Ryck, Rycken, and Rycke.
Reck is a common family name found in Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States. It is often found in combination with forenames such as Christian, or Friedrich, Recker, Rekers, Reckers, Rekers, Reker, Riekers, Riekersen, Rieker, Riekers, Rieckers, and Riekkers.
In Luxembourg, Reiker, Rekers, and Reecks form the main variants of the Reck surname. In South Africa, many families named Reck are of German origin, and the most commonly found variants are Reike, Riecke, and Rycke. Dutch families with this surname typically have the variant Reicke or Reike, while those with German roots generally have the variant Reck.
In the United States, Reck is a well-established surname, particularly in Pennsylvania. Variations often found in the United States are Reeck, Reecke, Rieck, Riecken, Ryck, and Rycken.
Regardless of spelling, all of these surnames represent the same Germanic root of Regin, and share an origin in German and Dutch language and culture.
Famous people with the name Reck
- Johannes Reck: German entrepreneur and founder of MyPass Global, an innovative payment company that has been credited with revolutionizing the logistics industry.
- Brian Reck: Musician and songwriter from Los Angeles. He has released multiple solo albums and is a member of the band The Malignant ignorance.
- Daniel Reck: German lawyer and businessman who specialized in international business law.
- Chad Reck: Professional racecar driver from the United States. He has won multiple championships in karting and sports car racing.
- Ted Reck: American football quarterback who played for the University of Texas during his college years.
- Barry Reck: British-American actor and producer best known for his roles in films such as Empire of the Sun and Shiloh 2.
- Charles Reck: American politician and 44th Governor of Nebraska.
- Janette Reck: Canadian sculptor and visual artist.
- Tiffany Reck: American television host and actress known for her role on the reality TV series Flavor of Love.
- Adam Reck: American author and cartoonist who wrote the popular book series "Welcome to the Navy."