Surname Recke - Meaning and Origin
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Recke: What does the surname Recke mean?
The last name Recke likely originated in the German region of Westphalia. It is likely derived from the Middle High German word "Recken," which means "knight" or "warrior." This suggests that the name was originally bestowed upon a warlike individual or family originating in the region.
The English translation of Recke is typically "Rider" or "mounted warrior," indicating that the name may have been given to someone who was a particularly skilled horseman. The word "reckless" is also derived from "Recke," which may reflect the fierce and determined nature of the Recke family.
The Recke surname can be found in records dating back to the 1500s in what is now Germany. Over the centuries, members of the Recke family moved throughout Germany, and eventually immigrated to other countries, including the United States.
Today, the last name Recke is most commonly found in western Germany, as well as the United States, Austria, and Switzerland. People with the last name Recke are from diverse backgrounds, many of them descended from German immigrants, and all have the common characteristic of strength and courage embodied in the ancient name.
Order DNA origin analysisRecke: Where does the name Recke come from?
The last name Recke is most common in Germany today, where it is ranked as the 270th most popular surname. It is particularly popular in the western and southwestern regions of the country, such as the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hesse, and Bavaria. It is also particularly popular in the North Frisian Islands and in the North Frisian-speaking parts of Schleswig-Holstein.
Recke is a German patronymic surname, meaning “son of Rike.” It is derived from the given name Rike, a short form of several Germanic names, such as Ricolf (a Visigothic name meaning “powerful wolf”). The earliest records of the name occur in the thirteenth century in Tilsit, East Prussia.
The name is found in other countries around the world due to immigration from Germany, such as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America.
The surname is also common in other parts of Europe, including Austria and Switzerland. In Austria, the name is most commonly found in Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Styria.
The name probably originates from a place called Reckenfeld in Westphalia. There is also a small town in Saxony-Anhalt named Recke, which may have contributed to the name's popularity in Germany and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Recke
Recke is a German surname derived from a place name thought to most likely originate from the Low German word “reck”, which means “clearing in a forest”. It was first found in Westphalia, Germany, and is still popularly used as a surname today.
Variants of Recke that have a similar or identical phonetic pronunciation include Reicke, Recken, Reccke, Reke, Recko, Recko, Rekkken, Rekke, Reckem, Rekkie, Riecke, and Reckey. The spelling variants Reckei and Rekken are also not uncommon.
Surnames of similar origin are Recker, Reckerd, Reckerds, Reckerdts, Reckerdt, and Rekkert. There are also variants with different syllabic emphasis, such as Reckenberger, Reckenstrater, and Rekker.
Finally, surnames thought to be closely related to Recke include Rayke, Rische, Reich, Reichard, Reiche, Reigers, Riege, Rierson, Ross, and Roth. While it is still unknown whether these surnames are derived from forms of “Recke” or not, they share several of its spelling variations and some of its registers.
In summation, the variants, spellings, and surnames for Recke include: Reicke, Recken, Reccke, Reke, Recko, Recko, Rekkken, Rekke, Reckem, Rekkie, Riecke, Reckey, Recker, Reckerd, Reckerds, Reckerdt, Reckerdt, Rekkert, Rayke, Rische, Reich, Reichard, Reiche, Reigers, Riege, Rierson, Ross, and Roth.
Famous people with the name Recke
- Andy Recke: Andy Recke is a professional NASCAR and sports car driver who has competed in the ARCA Midwest Tour, DUIE Detroit Grand Prix, Cadillac Sports Car Challenge, and Grand American Rotax Max Challenge
- Alex Recke: Alex Recke is an American soccer player who currently plays in USL League Two for Long Island Rough Riders.
- Reinhold Recke: Reinhold Recke is a German probability theorist that has made significant contributions to stochastic processes and financial mathematics
- Carl Wilhelm Recke: Carl Wilhelm Recke was a 19th-century German architect and builder, best known for his work on the Marienkirche, the oldest church in Kiel.
- Mary Recke: Mary Recke is an American actress and producer who has starred in multiple television series such as Power Rangers Turbo and Angel.
- Günther Recke: Günther Recke is a German businessman who is the owner of Kontron AG, a German-based electronic engineering company.
- Franke Recke: Franke Recke is a German former footballer who played for FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Thomas Recke: Thomas Recke is a German professional swimmer who has represented Germany in the International Swimming League.
- Sylvia Recke: Sylvia Recke is an American music artist who has released multiple albums and EPs through her own record label Premier Records.
- Ronnie Recke: Ronnie Recke is a German singer-songwriter, composer, and the founder of her own independent record label, PurpleNation Records.