Surname Rathgeb - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rathgeb: What does the surname Rathgeb mean?
The last name Rathgeb is a German name that originated from Middle High German, and is thought to be derived from two words. The first word is "rathe" which means decision or advice, and the second word is "geb" which means to give. Combined, the name Rathgeb could be interpreted to mean "to give advice."
The Rathgeb surname is believed to have first appeared in the late medieval period, when social and political structures were beginning to take shape in Germany. Those who took this surname may have had a family profession of counseling or offering advice to others, and this could be why the family name originated from those two words.
The Rathgeb family can be found living throughout Germany, and also in Austria and Czechoslovakia. It is believed that many members of the family immigrated to the United States in the 1800s, and can be found living in various parts of the country today.
The Rathgeb surname is one that's steeped in history and speaks to the family's strong belief in offering advice. Today, many members of the family carry on this same tradition, as they are known for their keen eye for detail and their sound advice.
Order DNA origin analysisRathgeb: Where does the name Rathgeb come from?
The last name Rathgeb is common today throughout Central Europe. Most prominently, Rathgeb is a common surname in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In these countries, the last name is seen regularly in both small towns and large cities.
Austria is probably the origin of the last name Rathgeb, as the name is widely found throughout the country despite its small size. Germany also has a sizable population with the surname. Germany and Austria are also both geographically close to Switzerland, which has a large population of Rathgebs.
Given the proximity of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, it is possible that the surname sprung from a single origin in the area. This could mean that the Rathgeb name was adopted by many different families who later moved to different sections of Europe or even further afield.
In any case, the Rathgeb surname is somewhat more rare outside of Central Europe. It appears occasionally in North America, but the concentration of the name is certainly heavily concentrated in Central Europe. However, those bearing the Rathgeb name will find a large community of people with the same surname throughout Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Rathgeb
The surname Rathgeb is a German spelling derived from the Dutch surname Rathgever, which can also be found as Ratghever, Ratgever, Rathgeber, or Ratgeber. It is formed from the Dutch root verb rathgeven, meaning “to give counsel.” This suggests that the original bearer of the name was someone skilled in giving advice or offering guidance.
The surname is also found in German variations such as Ratgeb, Rachgeb, Rachtgeb, or Rachgaeb. It is also found in alternative spellings such as Raschgeb, Roschgeb, and Rathkolb.
In other continental regions of Europe, it is sometimes seen as Rathke or Rahtke. In the United States, many of these alternate spellings have merged into one general spelling: Rathgeb, consisting of Rath and Geb, sometimes rendered as either Gebb or Gibb.
In addition to Rathgeb, other surnames of similar origin include Redgeb, Reckgeb, Rekgeb, Reggenb, and Regeb, as well as Patka, Patke, Patje, and Patch.
The spellings of Rathgeb can vary widely, even in the same region, and it is not uncommon to find different spellings for the same relative. Some people with the same surname may even bear one spelling in one place and another spelling in another. Over generations, the spelling of a person’s surname can shift or evolve further, making it difficult to trace the names of one particular ancestor.
Nevertheless, the common roots of all these spellings and their associated surnames can be traced to a common ancestral origin as noted above.
Famous people with the name Rathgeb
- Antje Rathgeb: professional freestyle skier from Germany who has competed in slopestyle and big air events.
- Irene Rathgeb: Austrian artist, dancer, and choreographer who has made a name for herself in the world of contemporary performance art.
- Manfred Rathgeb: Former Austrian Olympic alpine skier who competed in the giant slalom and slalom events.
- Marius Rathgeb: Swiss-Italian bobsledder and Paralympian who won a bronze medal in the two-man event at the 2006 Winter Paralympics.
- Marcus Rathgeb: German javelin thrower who was the 2012 World Junior champion in the event.
- Sascha Rathgeb: Austrian biathlete who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Thomas Rathgeb: Swiss cyclist who competed in four consecutive editions of the Tour de Suisse, from 2005 to 2008.
- Ulrich Rathgeb: Austrian ski mountaineer who competed in the qualifying race for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
- Wolfgang Rathgeb: Former Austrian footballer who most notably played for FC Kärnten and Austria Salzburg.