Surname Rieckermann - Meaning and Origin
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Rieckermann: What does the surname Rieckermann mean?
The last name Rieckermann is derived from a German language surname, which translates to "resident of Rieck" or "son of Riecke". Riecke is an old Germanic and Dutch personal name, of which the exact etymology is unknown. However, it is believed to come from a similar root as the word for “ruler”, which is thought to derive from the Proto-Germanic word “rikaz” which meant “rich man”.
The presence of the name Rieckermann dates as far back as the 1700s where it mainly pertained to families from the northern German region of Niedersachsen. It has since spread out across Germany and Europe, with variants of the name appearing across the French, Italian and Spanish diasporas, such as Riecker and Reickermann.
The name is most prevalent in Germany, with the highest concentration of families bearing the name being found in Hamburg. This could be attributed to the many German immigrants who fled their home country due to religious persecution in the late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century. It could also be due to the profession of many of these immigrants, which were merchants and their descendants.
When translated to English, the name means “one from Rieck” or “son of Rieck” and this reflects the origin of the name’s original families. The Rieckermann family name symbolizes generations of strong, successful and resilient people who’ve had persevered through a tumultuous and often harsh history.
Order DNA origin analysisRieckermann: Where does the name Rieckermann come from?
The last name Rieckermann is a German surname originating in Brandenburg, a state in Northeast Germany, and is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is especially common in the German-speaking regions of Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hesse, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Saarland, where it is among the most frequent surnames.
The etymological roots of this surname are the personal name "Ricker", which itself comes from the old German "rico", and the suffix "-man", which in German names usually denotes manliness or strength. Therefore, the name Rieckermann can be interpreted as a "Ricker the strong man".
Rieckermann is not only found in Germany, but is also present in a number of other countries, including Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand, and certain parts of South America.
Today, many people bearing the last name Rieckermann live outside of Germany, often in countries where German immigrants settled during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For example, there are a significant number in the United States with German ancestry who are most likely descendants of the original immigrants who adopted Rieckermann as their last name. In the United States, the last name is primarily concentrated in the Midwest and New England states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Variations of the surname Rieckermann
Rieckermann is a German surname of occupational origin, derived from the Middle High German word "Riúkemân" meaning ‘rider-man’ – indicating that the original bearer of the surname was a man employed as a rider. Variants of the name include Richterman, Rikerman, Rickerman, Richerman, Riekermann, Ryckerman, Ryckermann, Reichtermann and Riekermaun.
The italicized version of Rieckermann, Rieckerman, is sometimes seen in Germany and across Europe. Another version of the name, Reichman, is sometimes encountered in the United States and in Germany.
In many cases, the plural form of the surname Rieckermann – Rieckermanns – is applied in Germany to indicate descent from more than one Rieckermann family. Given that the German language is a gendered language, the form Rieckerman was applied to the female line of descent, so one might occasionally encounter Rieckerman in the U.S., as well as in Germany.
The surname Rieckermann is often Americanized to Rickerman. Some variants may also have developed pronunciation-based spelling variations, such as Rickmen, Ryterman, Ritermann, Rademann, and Rigermann.
Rieckermann can be further found in a number of hyphenated surnames, such as Rieck-ermann, Reich-ermann, Richer-mann, Ryck-ermann, Riker-man, Richter-mann, and Ryter-mann.
Famous people with the name Rieckermann
- Max Rieckermann: German businessman and investor, board member of OSE Immunotherapeutics since 2017.
- Albert Rieckermann: German-born businessman and philanthropist, founder of Kienbaum, one of the world's oldest executive search firms.
- Peter Rieckermann: German singer-songwriter, noted as a member of the group LaFee.
- Bob Rieckermann: American former Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals between 1967 and 1972.
- Chris Rieckermann: German actor who is best known for his roles in movies such as Love & Mercy, True Blood, and Flight of the Fallen.
- Charlotte Rieckermann: German film producer and director, responsible for the series Super rtl and the movie Meine Spatzenhirte.
- Ulla Rieckermann: German artist, curator, and educator known for her performance art works and photography.
- Susanne Rieckermann: German television actress best known for her role as Ingrid Graf in the family series Wer liebt wen?