Surname Reker - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Reker: What does the surname Reker mean?
The last name Reker is of German origin, related to the German word "Reker," meaning a person who lives beside a body of water. It is also thought to possibly be derived from the personal name Roger.
In records dating back hundreds of years, Reker was initially a locational surname, most typically found in Northern parts of Germany. It may have referred to someone who lived near a water feature like a river or lake, or to someone of the Reiker name who relocated to an area near water. One record from 1337 in Germany notes a Halm Reker living near a river, and another from 1387 notes one Bainrad Reker living near a pond.
Additionally, the name could have come from the personal name Roger, which is derived from the Germanic elements “hrod”, meaning fame, and “ger”, meaning spear. It could also have derived from the Old German given name "Richard".
Today, the variant forms of the Reker surname are found mainly in Germany, as well as The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and even some other European countries.
In general, the Reker surname celebrates the rich heritage of those with the name, no matter the source and origin. It is a reminder of the significance of water in this region of the world and hope for a better life for those with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisReker: Where does the name Reker come from?
The last name Reker is most commonly found today in Germany and the Netherlands. It is thought to originate from the old German rocca meaning ‘strongly defended place’ and this origin of the name suggests that it is likely to have endured for many centuries in these areas.
In Germany, the last name Reker is most prevalent in the northern and eastern parts of the country, with the largest concentrations found in the German states of Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, and Lower Saxony. The last name is also fairly common in other neighboring German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt.
In the Netherlands, the last name is slightly less common and is found primarily in the provinces of Friesland, Overijssel, and Drenthe. It is also quite common in other Dutch provinces, such as North Holland, Utrecht, and Gelderland.
In general, the last name Reker is still widely used throughout Germany and the Netherlands, and is also found in many other European countries, as well as in countries around the world that have strong ties to the region, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Reker
The Reker surname is believed to be of Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, or Dutch origin. Variants of the Reker surname include Rekker, Recor, Reecer, Reckor, Reiker, Rekar, Recker, Rieker, and Riker.
In some cases, the spelling of Reker surname has changed over time; it can be found in records as Recer, Reckar, Reccar, Reccker, Rekkor, Reikar,Reicar, Reiher, Recker, Reekar, Reiker, Reechar, Reccer, Reecke, Reecar, Reike, Recke, Reiche, Riker and Reggar.
In many cases, the spelling of Reker got changed to other surnames, which are so-called metronymic or patronymic surnames; these include Rekers, Rekerse, Rekersen, Rekkes, Rekkens, Rekersman, Reeckers, Rekersma, Rekerts, Reckels, Reckerdijk, Rekkerd, Reckelhoff, Rekkerd, Rekker, Rekerling, Recke, Rekersdijk, Rekersdorp, Rekxers, Rekersbos, Reeckershof, Rekerskamp, Rekkeboom, Reckeler, Rekke, Reggers, Rekkers, Reckkens.
Today many people of Dutch descent have adopted the Reker surname, and those with the surname can trace their historical roots back to Holland, specifically to the provinces of Groningen and Friesland.
Famous people with the name Reker
- Rich Reker: former professional American football quarterback
- Charlie Reker: American film actor
- Lorenza Reker: German politician, mayor of the Schöneberg district of Berlin
- Jeff Reker: American businessman and author
- Eric Reker: Australian football coach and former player
- Alfred Reker: German zoologist, explorer, and medical researcher
- Ken Reker: professional American football player
- Edward Reker: American soldier during World War I
- Denise Reker: German children's book author
- Anton Reker: Dutch road bicycle racer