Surname Rekke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rekke: What does the surname Rekke mean?
The last name Rekke is a Swedish and Norwegian surname derived from the Old Norse word "rekkr," which literally means warrior. This name is associated with Viking ancestry and is believed to have been used to distinguish particular families with a warrior tradition.
In Sweden, the name is known as “Rekkå” and is commonly found among those living in the Götaland region. It is thought to be derived from a combination of the vowels ‘rek’ which means power and the suffix ‘kå’ which denotes a belonging to a place or family.
Rekke is known to be an occupational surname given to a dockworker or sailor which references someone who was either responsible for the loading and unloading of vessels or who navigated waterways.
In terms of the family’s reputation, the Rekke name is associated with strength, independence and hard work. This is largely attributed to the hardy Sabbatica family which has been traced back to pre-17th century. The Rekke descendants are said to have contributed to the local economy through a range of trades and activities such as fishing, woodworking and construction.
Overall, Rekke is a strong and proud surname emanating from Viking heritage. It carries the legacy of a hardworking family who have provided a great contribution to the region through their determination and hard-work.
Order DNA origin analysisRekke: Where does the name Rekke come from?
The last name Rekke is a fairly uncommon surname, but is predominantly found in the Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is not usual to find the last name in other countries, but some people with the last name may have emigrated from the Scandinavian countries to other parts of the world.
In Norway, the majority of people with the last name Rekke tend to live in the east-central parts of the country, such as Oslo, Akershus, Hedmark, and Østfold. The last name is also more common in rural areas.
In Sweden, the last name is slightly more scattered than in Norway, however most of the people with the last name Rekke tend to live in Västra Götaland and Skåne counties, which stretch from the southwest part of the country right to the south.
In Finland, the last name Rekke is found mainly in eastern parts of the country, such as Southern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, and Satakunta regions.
Overall, the last name does not appear to be particularly common in any one region, country, or area of the world. It is much more likely that, if you come across somebody with the last name Rekke, they may have Scandinavian ancestry.
Variations of the surname Rekke
The surname Rekke is an uncommon name of Scandinavian origin derived from the Old Norse Karl, meaning ‘free man’ or ‘man of the people’. It is most commonly found in Norway, where it was first recorded in the early 14th century.
Today, there are various ways the surname can be spelled, and some alternative spellings of Rekke include Recke, Rek, Rekka, Rec, Reiche, Reicke and Reucke. There are also several regional variations and dialectical forms of the name, such as Riek, Rieck, Riecke, Riekke, Rekk and Rekker.
In addition, some of the different variants of the Rekke surname are Rekkerud, Rekkerlien, Rekberg, Reksaas, Rekkedal and Rekeland. Although each of these variants has the same root, they could be found in different parts of Norway over the years.
Lastly, there are also a several other last names of German-origin which have the same root as Rekke, such as Reichert, Reichel, Reker and Rickert. It is also believed that the Dutch surname Reeck is related to Rekke.
Overall, the surname Rekke is a rare and varied name with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Rekke
- Morten Gamst Pedersen: Former professional Norwegian footballer who played for both Blackburn Rovers and Tromsø IL.
- Kristin Rekke: Norwegian cross-country skier who competed in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Jan Rekke: Former wrestler who competed in the 1920 Olympics for Norway.
- Arvid Revold Rekke: Norwegian civil servant who was secretary general of the Norwegian Red Cross from 1959 to 1980.
- Mac Rekke: Canadian actor known for the series, “The Witch”.
- Bjørn Arvid Rekke: Norwegian politician and editor of an art magazine.
- Bente Midtvedt Rekke: Norwegian writer and playwright.
- Olav Rekke: Norwegian reporter who worked as a war correspondent for multiple radio stations as well as a newspaper editor.
- Ørjan Rekke: Norwegian fighter pilot during World War II.
- John Rekke: Canadian painter whose work is featured in multiple exhibitions and galleries.