Surname Reckwerth - Meaning and Origin
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Reckwerth: What does the surname Reckwerth mean?
The last name Reckwerth is of German origin. It is derived from the Germanic word “reckwert,” meaning a protected settlement or village, and refers to someone who lives in or near a settlement under the protection of a headman or lord of the manor. The Reckwerths are believed to have migrated from northern Germany in the late 1800s. The Reckwerth family may be related to the German-born, Jewish-American composer and songwriter Richard Rodgers.
Within Germany, the Reckwerth name is associated with the region of Schleswig-Holstein, a region located between the rivers Elbe and Eider, and historically the home of the Danish monarchy. The Reckwerth family likely originated from this coastal region, as the family name is more commonly found in German records from that area.
The surname Reckwerth is relatively rare in the United States, and is believed to have outlasted its prevalence in Germany due to its demographic movement via immigration. Nevertheless, today the Reckwerth name is shared by many families in the U.S., with individuals living in a range of states from New York to California. In spite of the lack of widespread familiarity with the surname, the Reckwerth family has strong roots in German history, and likely carries a heritage of peaceful protection and a tie to the rich and notable history of Schleswig-Holstein.
Order DNA origin analysisReckwerth: Where does the name Reckwerth come from?
The Reckwerth surname is most commonly found in Germany and surrounding countries. It is thought to have originated in Herzogtum Jülich, a duchy located in modern day north west Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have derived from the German word for "acreage" and was originally used as a nickname for an owner of an acreage. It is still present in Germany today, especially in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The surname is also found in some parts of the United States. It is thought that the earliest occurrences of Reckwerth in the US were during the wave of German immigration in the 19th century. It is likely that ancestors of these immigrants have since spread to other parts of the US and that other collectors of the surname have arrived in more recent times.
In the 21st century, the Reckwerth surname is believed to be most commonly found in and around St. Louis, Missouri, where there is an area of high German heritage and a particular cluster of Reckwerth households. The Reckwerth surname is also found in other Germanic countries including Austria, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Overall, the Reckwerth surname is seen to show a strong presence in Germany, the US, and some other parts of Europe, most likely due to the spread of German immigration.
Variations of the surname Reckwerth
Reckwerth is an old German surname of diverse origins. It can come from either an occupational (Berufnamen) name, derived from the Middle High German recken, meaning "rider (army)", or a topographical name based on the Old High German rek, meaning "a clearing, an open space". The variants of the Reckwerth surname include Rakwerth, Racquerth, Reckert, Reckhirt, Reckhard, Rekkert, Rackerd, Reckered, Reckerty, Recke-Werth, and Reckworth.
The spellings and surname variations of Reckwerth can vary significantly from one country to another. In Germany, the Reckwerth surname is usually spelled Reckwerth. In the United States, however, it is often spelled Reckert or Reckard. In the Netherlands, the surname is often spelled Ragert. In England, the name is often spelled Rackerd, Rackered, or Reichhardt.
The earliest known form of the Reckwerth surname was found in the 14th century in the ancient city of Lübeck, located in Northern Germany. There, a certain Johannes de Reckerd was recorded in a tax census in 1353.
Throughout the 19th century, the Reckwerth surname spread all across Europe and eventually the United States. In the United States, the Reckwerth name can be found in many different states, from California to New York.
Overall, the various spellings and surnames associated with the Reckwerth name come from its Germanic origins. While these different spellings can be found across the globe, the deep Germanic roots of the name remain unchanged.
Famous people with the name Reckwerth
- Maurice Reckwerth: composer and musician from Germany who has performed at festivals such as the Salzburg Biennale.
- Anne Reckwerth: German Writer whose work often centers on gender and intersectional issues.
- Ernest Reckwerth: award-winning German author specializing in historical fiction, particularly World War II-era novels.
- Bob Reckwerth: Basketball coach and Mens Assistant at Macalester College and former assistant at Wisconsin-Green Bay.
- Bruce Reckwerth: Executive Vice President of Athletics and Student Affairs at University of Wyoming.
- David Reckwerth: former Dean of the College of Arts and Science at University of Northern Colorado and current President of Central Michigan University.
- Janet Reckwerth: student outreach specialist at the Green Bay Area School District.
- Helen Reckwerth: American artist and teacher whose works appear in several public institutions.
- Mark Reckwerth: jazz saxophonist, best known as a member of the influential 1970’s bebop-fusion group Free Flight.
- Phil Reckwerth: baseball player from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who played as a pitcher and outfielder for the Padres, Giants and Royals.