Surname Reecke - Meaning and Origin
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Reecke: What does the surname Reecke mean?
The last name Reecke is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It comes from the pre-medieval Germanic personal name Ricco, which means “strong ruler”. The Reecke surname is also known to be associated with the medieval German city of Reckendorf. It has been noted that the Reecke surname was originally the patronymic form when the surname had been adopted by the members of a certain ancient Germanic tribe.
Over time, the Reecke surname spread all over the world and is today found in many countries. It is particularly widespread in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada, and is most common in Bavaria, the American Midwest, and California. The meaning of the Reecke surname remains fairly clear; it is a testament to a lineage of resilient and determined individuals.
The name Reecke is often used to describe someone who is strong, independent, bold and courageous. It indicates a hardworking and driven person, whose roots are deeply ingrained in their ancestral land. For centuries, people bearing the name Reecke have been famous for their tenacity, determination, and passionate spirit. They have made their mark in many areas, such as politics, science, military, and business.
Order DNA origin analysisReecke: Where does the name Reecke come from?
The last name Reecke is most common in Germany today, where it is among the top 500 last names. It is also found in the Netherlands, where it is about the 4,500th most popular last name. Outside of Europe, it is very rare. In the United States, for example, it ranks 19,336th in popularity.
The surname Reecke is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Reeck or Reecken. It is derived from the Germanic given name "Reiggin," which is a combination of elements meaning "advice" and "fierce." It is thought to have been coined during the Middle Ages in Germany. Its roots as a personal name are traceable back to the 8th century.
The Reecke surname can be found in many ancient records dating back to the 1500s. The earliest record of the surname is a man named Tidemann Recke, who is listed in a 1526 record from the city of Hasebrock in Germany. By the 19th century, usage of the Reecke surname had expanded throughout cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the northwest of the country.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in Germany, which holds the highest population of Reecke's in the world. While its popularity varies from country to country, it is still a relatively rare surname worldwide.
Variations of the surname Reecke
The surname Reecke is of German origin and is generally spelled Reecke, Reeke, Reeke, Reke or Releck, although alternate spellings are also common. Reecke is an occupational surname, with the earliest records of its use dating to the early 15th century.
The occupational meaning of Reecke is "Harvester," so its presence in the early communities of Germany is likely due to men who worked in reaping and grain-handling.
Reecke is a patronymic surname, meaning that the lead name was derived from the name of an ancestor’s father. In the case of Reecke, the original ancestor's name was Rikke, or Ricke, a diminutive form of the popular Germanic name ‘Rik’, which means ‘power’.
The variants of the surname Reecke can include a variety of spellings and surnames including: Reeck, Reek, Reicke, Reichel, Reick, Reike, Reickmann, Reeckmann, Reichel, Ricke, Reikel, Reichert, Reich, Reiche, Reichelt, Reickl, Reichle, Reichler, Reichmann, Rickel, Reichelmann, Reider, Riderer, Rieder, Riederer, Rieter, Riether, Ryther, Reitsma, Rits, Ritsma, Wytsma.
In some instances the Reecke surname may have even become connected to other surnames, such as the Dutch surnames Reesten, Reij, Rijneveld, and Reeuwijk, as well as the German surnames Rink, Redeke and Reidegeld.
The Reecke surname can be found in many countries worldwide, including the United States, where it is estimated to be the 7,301st most prevalent surname.
Famous people with the name Reecke
- Maximilian Reecke: German actor and model.
- John Reecke: American actor and comedian
- Lucas Reecke: Dutch writer
- Carola Reecke– German-Italian fashion designer
- Cristoffer Reecke: Swedish athlete
- Gero Reecke: German Paralympic wheelchair racer
- Michel Reecke: German contemporary artist
- Anders Reecke: Swedish athlete
- Wilco van Reecke: Dutch swimmer
- David Reecke: German composer