Surname Retterath - Meaning and Origin
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Retterath: What does the surname Retterath mean?
The last name Retterath is likely of German origin and is a geographical surname. It is the name of a town located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The name first appeared in records as early as 1293 as "Retteryth," which might have been derived from a name such as "Reinhard von Retteryth" or "Renger von Retteryth." The name might also have referred to an ancestral family of settlers who lived near the town of Retterath, which is thought to have been established in the 11th century. The town's name reflects both its geography and its history. It is derived from the German words “Rettung” and “Erde," which loosely translate to “refuge” and “earth.” This suggests that the town may have once been a safe haven or refuge for those seeking protection from war or violence. Additionally, the “ath” ending of “Retterath” is believed to be an Old Germanic suffix placed at the end of nouns and verbs, signaling that the town was originally built out of the earth itself or that its people were of the earth. Thus, the name Retterath conveys a sense of security and permanence, and might have been adopted by a family of settlers living in or near the town in reference to its safe haven or to their own concrete roots in the soil.
Order DNA origin analysisRetterath: Where does the name Retterath come from?
The last name Retterath is most common in western Germany, particularly in and around the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Ruhr. According to census data, it is the 147th most common last name in Germany as a whole. It remains most common in the rural regions of Germany and is relatively rare in cities such as Berlin.
Retterath surname holders often share a common ancestry, as families of the same surname are likely to trace their roots to the same village, region or even distant ancestor. It is likely that the Retterath surname originates from a place name near Grevenbroich in the Rhine-Weser area of the Rhineland-Palatinate.
Of course, the Retterath surname is not confined to Germany. People with this surname can be found across the United States, Canada, England, France, New Zealand and Australia as well. Currently, it is most popular in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and California.
Whether a Retterath living in Germany, the United States or elsewhere, the Retterath surname remains a key part of family heritage and a sign of a shared past that transcends national boundaries and cultural divides.
Variations of the surname Retterath
Retterath is a German surname with a variety of spellings. It could spell as Rettearth, Rettearath, Retteraht, Retterahth, Retterahthh, Retteraath, Retteraahth, Rettearahth, and Rettearahthh. These variants of the same surname are influenced by different cultural and regional traditions, such as German dialects and regional preferences for certain spellings.
Same origin or similar sounding surnames include Retterer, Rettery, Retter, the Dutch surname Retel, Retzinger, Rettenmeier, Rettenbacher, Retterbush, Referrer, Reuther, and Retz.
Most of the same origin surnames come from the root Retter, which is a noble name meaning protector. It is related to Reuter or Reuther which can also be associated with the German word reuter meaning runner, messenger, news agent or courier.
Retterath is also related to the German surnames Retterbush and Rettenbacher which come from the word Retter meaning defender and Buche meaning bush and Bacher meaning small at that time while Rettenmeier is derived from the German words Retter meaning defender and Meier meaning farmer or peasant.
There are also similarities with the Dutch surname Retel which is derived from the German words Retter meaning defender and Elle meaning forearm. The Retzinger surname is most likely a German interpretation of the Hungarian surname Raczinger, a surname of Slavic origin derived from the word ric meaning power and power-ful, and the suffix –inger, which is a Germanic patronymic suffix denoting a descendant of someone.
The related surname Reuther can be traced back to the Middle High German rot meaning red and hrōt meaning bold. This surname denotes someone of a red complexion or someone who was courageous.
Overall, Retterath is a German surname with many variants and same origin surnames. It has some Slavic and Dutch influences along with relationships to other specific German surnames.
Famous people with the name Retterath
- Wolfgang Retterath: Audiologist, retired professor, and former president of the German Audiology Society.
- Christian Retterath: Former German footballer with several clubs in the 2000s.
- Teemu Retterath: Finnish professional footballer who currently plays for the Nazareth Illit FC football club.
- Sarah Retterath: German judge and politician with the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
- Jan Retterath: Dutch sculptor, painter, and creator of installations.
- Adam Retterath: American college football player for Boston College.
- Fred Retterath: Head of pediatric neuro-oncology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
- Kimberly Retterath: Award-winning entrepreneur and CEO of the bespoke jewelry brand Crystal Courts.
- Hal Retterath: Former Major League Baseball player with the New York Mets in the late 1970s.
- Karl Retterath: Professional racing cyclist, active from 2009 to 2014.