Surname Rebstock - Meaning and Origin
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Rebstock: What does the surname Rebstock mean?
The last name Rebstock is of German origin, and is a locational surname meaning ‘dweller by the clearing in the woods’. It is composed of two elements, ‘Rau’ and ‘stoc’, both derived from Germanic words. ‘Rau’ is from the element ‘reid’ or ‘roh’, meaning ‘clearing’ or ‘clearing in the wood’. ‘Stoc’ is derived from the Germanic word ‘stauga’, meaning ‘dweller’ or ‘inhabitant’. Thus, the composite Rebstock means ‘dweller at the clearing in the woods’.
The Rebstock surname has been linked to many locations throughout Germany. During the fifteenth century, the Rebstock surname was found in East Prussian districts of Count Bernhard von Rebstock, as well as in districts of Berlin and Bavaria. Furthermore, the first recorded bearer of the Rebstock surname was Guibrand de Rebstock, a Norman crusader noted in the histories of the First Crusade.
Despite its German origins, the Rebstock surname also carries a rich history in America – specifically among the Pennsylvania Dutch. It was one of the earliest surnames to be recorded in colonial America and was brought to Pennsylvania by the immigrants who walked the path of the Great Wagon Trail between 1733 and 1738. Today, the Rebstock surname still carries on in communities across the United States, with Pennsylvania retaining the highest population of Rebstocks.
Order DNA origin analysisRebstock: Where does the name Rebstock come from?
The last name Rebstock is most commonly found in Germany and the German-speaking countries of Switzerland and Austria. It has some presence in other European countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Poland. Additionally, the name has spread beyond Europe to countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada.
In Germany, the surname Rebstock is most prevalent in the northern state of Lower Saxony, followed by the surrounding regions of Brandenburg, Westphalia, and Hesse. It is less common in the south. A key city where Rebstock is particularly common is Marburg in Hesse, where one can find a prominent Gustaf Rebstockstrasse, named after an 18th century mayor of the town.
In Austria, the last name Rebstock is most commonly found in the southern state of Styria, where some villages are still known for their presence of Rebstock families. Additionally, the city of Graz is home to a Rebstock Lane.
In the United States, the surname Rebstock is most common in Missouri, Iowa, and Michigan. Additionally, many Rebstock families have their roots in Germany, and there is a smaller presence in Canada, particularly in Ontario.
Overall, the last name Rebstock is most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but has also spread throughout Europe and to other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Rebstock
The surnames Rebstock, Rebstok, Rebstocki, Ripstock, Röbstock, Räbstock, and Rappstock are all variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The surname Rebstock is derived from the Middle Low German word 'rebbe', meaning 'head' or 'leader'. Over time, the word evolved to the more modern spelling of 'Rabbe'. This was then combined with the suffix -stok, meaning 'tree trunk or post', resulting in the surname Rebstock – or 'post of the head'.
The various spellings of the surname can be accounted for by sound changes in speech over time. For example, Röbstock, with its double vowel character, may come from a round-voweling common in the southern and central-western regions of Germany. Similarly, the spelling Ripstock may have arisen as the 'e' character was replaced with an 'i' in northern Germany.
Räbstock and Rappstock may be variants of the surname created by the addition of a second suffix -stok, as a way to distinguish themselves from other families with similar names. While Räbstock could be derived from the Old High German word for 'paternal inheritance', Rappstock could possibly refer to a 'long post' or 'pole'.
Overall, while these surnames may have variations in spelling and usage, they all have their roots in the same Middle Low German word, and can be traced back to the same origin.
Famous people with the name Rebstock
- Lena Rebstock: German former snowboarder and Olympian.
- Gerald Rebstock: German Ambassador, based in New Delhi since June 2018.
- Tom Rebstock: English musician and multi-instrumentalist.
- Maren Rebstock: German curler and two-time European Champion.
- Liz Rebstock: US-based sales leader.
- Fritz Rebstock: German goldsmith and author.
- Martha Rebstock: Artist and filmmaker living and working in Mexico City.
- Carl Rebstock: German glass-maker and craftsman from the 18th century.
- Constantine Rebstock: Swiss philanthropist, mostly known for his work in neglected villages of the Loire Valley.
- Master Johann Rebstock: Early 17th-century German metalworkers, active in Nuremberg.