Surname Riekel - Meaning and Origin
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Riekel: What does the surname Riekel mean?
The last name Riekel is of German origin, and the dictionary meaning of the name is either “branch” or “twig”. The etymological roots suggest an association with nature and forestry. It could suggest an early ancestor who was a laborer or a hunter in the forests, or who had the occupation of a woodsman.
The name Riekel could also have derived from the first name derived from the Roman “Rufus”; it means red-haired in Latin. This could suggest that an ancestor in the family was remembered for red hair.
The name has likely evolved over time, as many times when surnames were assigned it was done by geographical location or occupation; by the 19th century, it had likely become a fixed regional surname.
In a broader cultural context, the surname would be associated with certain parts of Germany traditionally—the Rhine, the Palatinate, and the Alpine areas. The surname is rare in other countries, but has been found in areas of Canada and the United States with German immigrant populations.
Overall, the last name Riekel is distinguished by its rarity and its connections to historical German settlements in Canada and the United States. It likely has a connection to an ancestor’s occupation and/or physical features, or perhaps even a geographical location.
Order DNA origin analysisRiekel: Where does the name Riekel come from?
The last name Riekel is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany alone, there are an estimated 4,500 people bearing the Riekel surname. Most of these individuals are located in the states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. These states are the most heavily populated in Germany, which explains why the last name is so concentrated there.
Riekel is also found in the United States and Canada. The United States has the largest population of Riekels outside of Germany, with an estimated 1,000 individuals bearing the name. Common states of residence include Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. In Canada, the last name is mainly concentrated in Ontario and Alberta.
Riekel is also occasionally found in other countries, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The last name is also found in South America, particularly in Argentina and Brazil.
To sum up, the last name Riekel is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada. It is also occasionally found in other parts of Europe and South America.
Variations of the surname Riekel
The surname Riekel is believed to have originated from Germany, and is derived from either the Germanic surname Rieck or the Dutch surname Riek. It can also be written as Rieckle, Reichel, Riekle, Riecken, Reikel and Richle. In some cases, the surname can be found spelled as Riekl, Riecke, Reick or Reickel.
In Germany, the surname Riekel is most commonly found in southern Germany states like Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Baden-Wurttemburg. Further records indicate that the name has spread to many other countries due to Germanic migration.
Within Germany, the surname is primarily found in the areas where it originated, such as the towns of Bielefeld, Hanover, Dortmund, Bavaria, and Saxony. In the United States, the name can be found concentrated in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, and Ohio.
The variants of the surname Riekel depend largely on the origin of the family. For example, those who are descended from East Germanic settlers might spell the name Rieck or Riekle while those from West Germanic settlers might spell the name as Riecke, Reichel, or Reickel. It is likely that other spellings have emerged over the years due to different pronunciations of the surname or misunderstandings when transcribing.
In most cases, the surname Riekel is derived from the German oppidum Rickele and the Old High German ric, meaning "powerful chief". Therefore, it is likely to have been used as a nickname or surname given to individuals of great strength or power.
Famous people with the name Riekel
- Scarlett Riekel: Scarlett Riekel is a popular German singer and songwriter, best known for her hit single “Rote Rosen” which reached the top 10 in Germany.
- Georg Riekel: Georg Riekel was a renowned German sculptor and painter. He is most famous for his sculpture Die Uhr, which is displayed in the Museum der Stahlgiesserei in the city of Essen.
- Erich Riekel: Erich Riekel was an Austrian chemist and metrologist who was among the earliest to scientifically study the shape and properties of atoms.
- Jonathan Riekel: Jonathan Riekel is an American actor and stuntman best known for his roles in various films, including The Revenant and The Dark Knight Rises.
- Ella Riekel: Ella Riekel is an Austrian singer and songwriter who has made a name for herself in the Austrian music scene. She is known for her elegant and expressive songwriting.
- Eduard Riekel: Eduard Riekel was an 19th century German theologian and philosopher who was a vocal proponent of Darwinism.
- Jakob Riekel: Jakob Riekel was an Austrian-German scientist active in the late 19th century who specialized in mineralogy and geology. He was known for his work on the Earth’s stratigraphy and paleontology.
- Kat Riekel: Kat Riekel is an American model and actress, best known for her work on campaigns for brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Ralph Lauren.