Surname Raukopf - Meaning and Origin
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Raukopf: What does the surname Raukopf mean?
The last name Raukopf is a German surname originating from Bavaria, one of the sixteen states of Germany. It is a habitational name derived from a place with the name beginning with “Rauk-” or “Rack-”, which comes from the old German words “hrakan” or “Rakan” meaning “roe deer”. This surname is likely related to families who were originally farmers and hunters who occupied roe deer-rich areas of Bavaria back in the 1300s.
The Raukopf surname is still common around Bavaria today, and likely across Germany as a whole. Its most common variants are Rauckopf, Raukoff, and Rauckhoff. It has also been adapted to other languages and countries in Euroope, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria, with variants such as Raukup, Raukap, Rauckop, Rauckopf, and Rukup.
It is likely that Raukopf was originally primarily a surname of the German middle and upper class, as most of its variants can be found in documents from around the 1500s and earlier, suggesting that back then it was likely chosen and adopted by those in the agriculturally rich and prosperous parts of Bavaria. Today, the Raukopf surname is still relatively common and usually associated with middle-class families of agricultural descent.
Order DNA origin analysisRaukopf: Where does the name Raukopf come from?
The surname Raukopf is of German origin, derived from the word "Rauch" which means "smoke". Today, this surname is primarily found in Germany and Austria. It is also one of the most common surnames in the Czech Republic.
In Germany, the name Raukopf is relatively common in the old Upper Franconian region, which is now called northern Bavaria. This is the result of centuries of emigration in search of work opportunities and better lives.
In Austria, the name Raukopf can be found throughout the country, although it is most common in the southern region. This is likely due to a wave of immigration in the 19th century, when people were encouraged to come to the area to work in the booming steel industry.
The Raukopf name is also fairly common in the United States. Many people with the surname Raukopf trace their ancestry back to Germany or Austria, and immigrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, they can be found in all parts of the U.S., although they are most common in the Midwestern and Eastern regions.
So, the last name Raukopf can be found in many parts of the world today. From its origins in Germany and Austria to its spread in the United States, Raukopf is one of the most common surnames in many countries.
Variations of the surname Raukopf
Raukopf is an uncommon German surname derived from two words: "Rauch" meaning smoke, and "Kopf" meaning head. It is typically spelled Raukopf in Germany, though it is sometimes observed spelled as Raokopf, Rauckopf, Raukeopf, Raukop, and Raukohf. The surname can also be linked to the word 'Rauke' meaning rye.
The surname has many variants which can be traced back to the original Raukopf. Some of these include Roukeopf, Rauekeopf, Roukopf, Rauke, RaLake, Raukepfy and Raukeops. It is believed that many of these forms originated as dialect versions of the original Raukopf.
The surname is not heavily concentrated in any one region of Germany, though a few regions have higher numbers than others. The eastern state of Brandenburg had the highest concentration of Raukopfs in 2011, followed by the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The surname is also found in countries such as the United States, where the spelling is often Americanized to Raukop. Those with the Raukopf surname here in the US, can trace their family origins back to those who immigrated from German speaking areas in Europe.
In conclusion, Raukopf is an uncommon German surname, and there are many variants and spellings of this surname both in Germany and around the world. People with this surname can trace their family roots to those who lived in German speaking areas.
Famous people with the name Raukopf
- Southern author and illustrator Joan Raukopf
- American film director Joe Raukopf
- German journalist Toni Raukopf
- American baseball player Bill Raukopf
- Air Force Brigadier General Joseph Raukopf
- American artist Pauline Raukopf
- Businesswoman and venture capitalist Regina Raukopf-Hensel
- American actor Eric Raukopf
- Austrian singer Helga Raukopf
- Czechoslovakian children's author Jan Raukopf