Surname Raabe - Meaning and Origin

Tracing Descendency and Diaspora: The iGENEA DNA Test Unveils Secrets of the Raabe Surname's Ancestral Lineages

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S. Raabe

Raabe: What does the surname Raabe mean?

The surname Raabe is a German and Dutch patronymic surname, derived from tthe given name Rabb. Rabb is a biblical name originating from Hebrew, meaning ‘great’ or ‘monument’. It is also found in the English language as the name Rob or Robert.

Raabe is the most common spelling in Germany, but variants Rabbe and Raab can also be seen. The name is most prevalent in Northern Germany and the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg). The family was widely used in Germany suddenly after the year 1000, and some records have been discovered of Raabe family members in all different social statuses from nobility to commoners. The Raabes were prominent merchants and traders in the 1500s, and many members served in diplomatic posts for the Hanseatic League. The surname is also linked to the Eisenach Anabaptist Church, and many of the Raabes were persecuted and died for their beliefs.

The Raabes have since continued to spread throughout the German-speaking world, and many have moved to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the surname Raabe can be found in many countries and cultures across the globe, along with the many different varieties of spelling.

Raabe: Where does the name Raabe come from?

The last name Raabe is most commonly found today in Germany. It is especially prevalent in the northern region of North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the western part of the country, where the concentration of individuals with the last name Raabe is more than three times the national average.

Raabe is said to be derived from the Slavic elements roh (horn) and bina (spine), which together mean “spinal bone”, and could therefore likely be an occupational name given to cobbler craftsmen, particularly those who worked with the leather spine of work boots.

In addition to Germany, Raabe is also found in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg. It is particularly concentrated in Germany’s most populous city, Berlin, and its second most populous city, Hamburg.

Raabe is also seen across North America in cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto. These Raabes may have likely shared common ancestry in Germany, perhaps moving to North America in pursuit of a better life during periods of economic hardship or strife.

Given its regional prevalence in Germany, it is likely the last name Raabe will continue to be seen in Germany and nearby areas for many generations to come.

Variations of the surname Raabe

The surname Raabe is a derivation of the German or medieval name Rabens and likely stems from the Old Germanic word rabh which means "raven" or from rabo, meaning "bent" or "crooked". The variants of this surname include Raben, Rabes, Raaff, Raebe, Rabe, Rabeau, Rabet, Rabus, Rach, Raff, Raffs, Raph, Rave, Raves, Ravs, Reab, Reabau, Rebbe, Rebe, Rebeau, Rebet, Rebos, Rebus, Rech, Reuff, and Ryb. Despite many different spellings, all these are likely related to the original root of the Raabe surname. Similarly, Raabe may be classified as a habitational name stemming from Rabenthal, which is derived from the old German words raban, meaning "raven" and thal, meaning "valley".

A common variant of Raabe is Rabe, which is more commonly used in German-speaking countries. Rabe can also be a mutation of the name Ruben, a Hebrew name meaning "Behold, a son". Similarly, the surname Raabin can be either a variant of Raabe or a contraction of the Hebrew name Rabbin, meaning "master" or "teacher".

Within the United States, variants of Raabe and its derivatives can be simply spelled as Rae, Reaeb or Raupp, while Raide is found more often in Europe. Furthermore, Raabe is also a Jewish surname, and may be spelled as Raab or Raabis.

All of these variants of Raabe are likely related to the original form, and all derive from the Old German rabh, meaning "raven".

Famous people with the name Raabe

• Max Raabe: a German singer and band leader of the Palast Orchester, which performs and preserves music from Germany’s ‘golden’ 1920s and 1930s period. He has released many albums, toured extensively in Europe and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York.
• Joanne Raabe: is an American film, television, and stage actress. Some of her acting credits include Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman, A League of Their Own, and Hook.
• Emil Raabe: a German automobilist. He was the first to drive in a race across Europe in 1905 and was also the first German driver to win a grand prix race.
• Ludwig Raabe: a German mathematician, most notably known for his contributions to number theory. He was also an influential teacher and inspired many mathematicians throughout his career, including authors of the famous mathematic textbooks.
• Horst Raabe: a German-American film producer, director, and writer of over seventy feature films, documentaries, and television episodes. He was instrumental in the development of successful German-language films,documentaries, and television series in the 1960s and 1980s.
• Friedrich Raabe: a German-born novelist and dramatist. He is credited with being one of the most influential German-language authors of the 19th century. His best-remembered works include The Sin of Philip Falsch and The Seventh Veil.
• Ulrich Raabe: a German politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party of Geman. He was also the Minister of Environment of Lower Saxony from 1998 to 2005.
• Ruth Raabe: a Swiss poet, novelist, children’s author, playwright, and horticulturist best known for her work in the field of children’s literature. She is the author of many novels including The Tornado and The Swallow Garden.
• Heinrich August Raabe: a German philologist and literary historian. He is best known for his work on the history of German, Dutch, and Anglo-Saxon literature, particularly his extensive research into the works of Goethe.

Other surnames

Raab