Surname Rieckens - Meaning and Origin
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Rieckens: What does the surname Rieckens mean?
The surname Rieckens is a surname of Dutch origin. It is derived from "Riekine", which is a combination of the personal names Rikkert and Reinold, two names that were popular in Holland during the medieval period.
Rieckens is a patronymic name, meaning it was derived from the name of the father, which in this case is Rikkert and Reinold. These names were often passed down from father to son and were eventually adapted as surnames. Thus, the people who held this surname were likely related, at least in part, to the original holders of the two personal names.
Throughout history, people with the surname Rieckens have been mostly concentrated in the Netherlands, with a few bearers living in other parts of Europe. Today, Rieckens is still most commonly found in the Netherlands.
The surname Rieckens is not particularly common, but those who bear it can take pride in their Dutch heritage and the history that goes along with it. Despite its Dutch origins, the name Rieckens is certainly international, representing the combination of two individual names rather than one, and the passage of time that has changed it and the people who carry it.
Order DNA origin analysisRieckens: Where does the name Rieckens come from?
The last name Rieckens is most commonly found in Germany today. The Rieckens name comes from the area of Lübbecke in the Westphalia region of the country, and has been present there since at least the 16th century. It was one of the earliest names to be found in the region.
Rieckens is primarily associated with the Lower Saxon region, where it is still common today. It is used throughout northern Germany, particularly in Hanover, Lower Saxony, and around the cities of Aachen, Kiel, and Bremen. Rieckens is also found across northern Europe, particularly in Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, France, Czechoslovakia, and parts of the former Soviet Union.
Outside of its original German homeland, Rieckens has spread to the United States and Canada. In the US, it is concentrated in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, while it is most common in British Columbia in Canada. It is also present in countries such as Mexico, Peru, Australia, and South Africa.
In the US and Canada, many people with the last name Rieckens are descended from German immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the name Rieckens is still a relatively uncommon one, but those who bear it still stand proud of their German heritage.
Variations of the surname Rieckens
The surname Rieckens can have a number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, depending on when and where it was recorded. Some of the more common variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rieckens include:
Reikens
Ricken
Rickenbach
Rickenberg
Rickenmann
Rieck
Riecke
Rieckel
Riecken
Rieckermann
Rieckers
Rieckmann
Rieger
Riegert
Rycken
Ryken
Rykena
Rücken
Rücker
Rückers
Recken
Recker
Reckers
Reckert
Reckerth
Rachen
Racek
Racken
Rackert
Reichel
Reichers
Reichman
Reichmann
Reik
Reken
Rekes
Rekecs
Rechen
Reikelman
Reikelmann
Reickels
Rietschmann
Rietsche
Rietschen
Rietschel
Riskmann
Rickes
Rickel
Rickert
Rikert
Rickenhagen
Riechmann
Riechman
Rieckges
Rieckenburgh
Reichard
Reichhardt
Rieg
Riek
Ryck
Rycke
Ryckel
Rycker
Ryckers
Ryckman
Ryckmann
Ryckersman
Rijcken
Rieckershoff
Rieckhoff
Riekken
Rieckelman
Riekman
Rieckman
Rieckzhagen
Rieken
Rickenbergs
Ruckes
Rückerth.
The alternative spellings and surnames of the same origin for Rieckens, are mostly derived from speech or phonetic records, and can be used to trace regional variances and migrations of the surname over time.
Famous people with the name Rieckens
- Hugo Riecken: Graphic Designer from Germany whose work has been featured in publications such as Phenomena Magazine, Los Logos and Visuelle Kultur.
- Doug Riecken: An American filmmaker best known for his documentary films including Such Good Work and The Oscar Nominated From This Day Forward.
- Kai Riecken: An award-winning German actor who appeared in the film The Lives of Others and has been in many acclaimed television shows.
- Julie Riecken: An opera singer from Germany with multiple successful albums.
- Michele Riecken: An accomplished American pianist and harpsichordist.
- Sophus Jacob Riecken: Danish gymnast and World Champion of gymnastics in 1900 and 1908.
- Piet Hein Riecken: Dutch marathon swimmer who won multiple gold medals in 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games.
- Betty Riecken: An American paintball player, world-record holder and paintball team sponsored member.
- Helmut Riecken: A former German goalkeeper who played in the Bundesliga in the 1970s for FC Schalke 04.
- Andreas Riecken: An Olympic fencer who represented Germany at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.