Surname Reckitt - Meaning and Origin
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Reckitt: What does the surname Reckitt mean?
The last name Reckitt is of English origin, but its exact meaning is unclear. Like many surnames, it may have originated from a place, profession, or character trait. One possibility is that it evolved from the Middle English term "rakett," referring to a type of stone used in construction, implying an ancestral Reckitt might have been a stonemason or builder. Another theory is that it's a variant of 'Ricketts', which comes from the old French 'riquet' meaning 'brave' or 'strong'. However, these are only speculations as there isn't recorded evidence to support these theories. Today, the most well-known association with the name Reckitt is Reckitt Benckiser, a British multinational consumer goods company.
Order DNA origin analysisReckitt: Where does the name Reckitt come from?
The last name Reckitt is most common in the United Kingdom. In the most recent UK census, taken in 2011, Reckitt was the 1,067th most common surname, with more than 2,500 individuals sharing the name.
Reckitt is especially common in the East Riding of Yorkshire, a former Viking kingdom in northern England. According to the 2011 UK census, more than 1,200 individuals in the region shared the last name Reckitt. It was the 29th most common name in the area.
The Reckitt name is also found in other parts of the United Kingdom. More than 750 individuals shared the name in Yorkshire and the Humber, 200 in London, and 150 in the West Midlands. Smaller clusters of Reckitts were found in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well.
Outside the United Kingdom, Reckitt is less common. Though some individuals can be found in South Africa, Canada, and the United States, the last name has yet to establish a substantial presence in other nations.
Variations of the surname Reckitt
The surname Reckitt has multiple variants, spellings and surnames originating from the same source. The most common variants of Reckitt are Reckit, Reckitts and Racit. Other spellings include Reiket, Reichit, Reikitt, Reiketts, Reicketts, Reikette, Reichitt and Recit.
Variations of the surname Reckitt include Redkett, Redeckitt, Redecketts, Redeketts, Redikett, Redikitt, Rediketts, Redicketts, Redikette and Rekett.
Surnames from the same origin as Reckitt include Racket, Rackett, Racketts, Racketes, Rackeet, Rackeetes, Rackeetts, Rackeetes, Rackit, Rackitt, Rackitts, Rackette, Raccit, Raccitt, Raccitts and Raccette.
Most of these surnames had Norman origins and derived from the early Latin compound ‘ricardicus,’ which translates to 'son of Richard’. It is likely that the bearers of this surname at first used it as a nickname, and then adopted it as a hereditary surname.
The Reckitt surname is mostly associated with England, Scotland, and Ireland, and its spellings, variants, and surnames are prevalent in these countries.
Famous people with the name Reckitt
- Rebecca Reckitt: An English-born artist currently living in Australia whose work is informed by her exploration of materiality and ideas of home.
- Nigel Reckitt: A professional illustrator and digital artist from the UK.
- Brian Reckitt: A former English cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club.
- Jane Reckitt: A British professor of law and former director of the International Humanitarian Law Research Initiative at the University of Essex.
- Andrew Reckitt: A retired Baptist minister and current member of the General Synod of the Church of England.
- John Reckitt: A British businessman and member of the Reckitt family which has occupied a key role in the history of Hull, England.
- Chris Reckitt: A professional footballer who currently plays for Oldham Athletic in the Football League One.
- Stephen Reckitt: A British businessman who is the current chairman of Reckitt Benckiser.
- Peter Reckitt: A 1939 Victoria Cross recipient who served as a high ranking officer in the British Army during World War II.
- Adam Reckitt: A professional rugby league player from England who currently plays for Widnes Vikings.