Surname Ratjens - Meaning and Origin

Ratjens: What does the surname Ratjens mean?

The last name Ratjens is of Dutch origin and is primarily found in the Netherlands. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name "Ratt", which is a diminutive of either "Reit," meaning "strong counsel," or "Rad," meaning "happy." The name was often bestowed by parents upon their children as a sign of affection and love.

The Ratjens name is quite rare today, having been used primarily during the 17th and 18th centuries. The name has also taken on several different spellings, such as Rat Yates, Ratjeys, and Ratzin. It can also be found in England, Germany, and in some cases in South Africa.

The Ratjens family stands for strength and resilience. They are industrious with a deeply-rooted appreciation for tradition and culture. Values like loyalty, hard-work, and self-reliance are important to this family. They are loyal to their friends and loved ones and will go out of their way to help those in need. As part of the Ratjens clan, a person can be sure of having someone to lend a helping hand or a kind word no matter the occasion.

Overall, the Ratjens name is a legacy of determination and strength, which is something for the Ratjens family to be proud of.

Ratjens: Where does the name Ratjens come from?

The last name Ratjens is a surname of Low German origin, believed to be derived from "ratjen" which means "little-rascal". It is most commonly found in both Germany and The Netherlands.

In Germany, many people with the last name Ratjens are concentrated near the area of Hanover, in Lower Saxony. The city of Hanover was at one time the royal seat of the House of Hanover, so this may be one reason the Ratjens family stayed in the area since it was first introduced.

In the Netherlands, the name Ratjens is most common in the province of Limburg. The ancestor of this Ratjens family is believed to have been an immigrant, so it is likely the name was spread through different parts of the country with the spread of the family.

Since the Ratjens family is spread out over Germany and The Netherlands, it is likely that some of the Ratjens family has spread to other parts of the world through emigration. There are Ratjens families that have migrated to both the United States and Canada, as well as other countries in Europe.

Therefore, Ratjens is a Last Name still common today in parts of Europe and North America. Over time it is likely that the Ratjens name has been adapted to different spellings, and may therefore be found to sound different in different countries.

Variations of the surname Ratjens

The surname Ratjens is a surname of Dutch origin. It is most commonly spelled as Ratjens but it can also be spelled Ratjen, Ratjensz, Ratjes, Ratjus, Radjes, Radjen, Radjus, Ratjus, Rathus, Ratjunts, Radjunts, Radjent, Radjont, Ratjont and Rotsjens. It can even take on altered spellings when the surname is adopted into different languages, such as with the German Radjen and Rottjen.

Ratjens is mainly derived from the personal name Rado which is an old Germanic name. It means "brilliant, or going with a song". The alternate spelling of Ratjen is said to be a patronymic surname for a son of Rado. Ratjes is derived from the surname it is a Dutch diminutive of Rat and Radjen is a form of Rado. Ratjus is thought to be derived from a Dutch dialectal version of the given name Rotger or Ruter which means ‘famous army’.

The surname Ratjens can also be found in alternative spellings when it is translated into other languages. For example, in French it can be spelt as Ratents and Ratence, and in Spanish it is spelt as Ratens and Ratenz. It also has an Italian version, Ratteni, which is derived from the Latin root ratio which means “to think, or to reflect”.

When translated into English Ratjens can take on the surname Raton which is said to mean “little mouse” in French. It can also be seen as Rathbone, which has multiple origins including Old German or Old French. Rathbone can also be derived from the Anglo-Norman name “Rathebys”, which means “Rathe’s estate”.

Overall, the surname Ratjens has many variants, spellings and surnames depending on the language or location, but it all has the same Dutch origin.

Famous people with the name Ratjens

• Tom Ratjens: Canadian soccer player
• Eric Ratjens: American professional basketball player
• Henri Ratjens: Dutch film and television actor
• Ellen Ratjens: German footballer
• Liesel Ratjens: German opera singer
• Gabriella Ratjens: Dutch model
• Max Ratjens: German actor
• Phil Ratjens: Canadian politician
• Nils Ratjens: Belgium sculptor
• Tony Ratjens: German football team manager

Other surnames

RatjeRatjen