Surname Richen - Meaning and Origin
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Richen: What does the surname Richen mean?
The last name Richen is a German name of uncertain derivation. It is most likely derived from the Medieval German word ric, meaning “lord” or “nobleman,” but some experts believe it may come from the Old German ricking, meaning “strong” or “powerful.” The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, and was first documented in 1359 in Germany.
Richen has also been used as a first name in some European countries. In Nazi Germany, it was an official title for those who had used their power or influence to help the politics or military of the country. Richen has also been used as a surname in several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, as well as other countries of northern Europe.
The name Richen is not especially common, although there are still many people with this name in Europe today. In Germany, around 110 people have the surname, primarily located in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is also fairly common in the Low Countries, such as in the Netherlands and Belgium. Generally, those who bear the name Richen are associated with aristocratic and powerful families or with families that have long been involved in politics or the military.
Order DNA origin analysisRichen: Where does the name Richen come from?
The last name Richen is a German surname of Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is most common today in Germany and Austria, where it is estimated to be held by approximately 3,500 people. It may also be found in countries with significant German-speaking populations such as Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. It is also present in the United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, and South Africa, but in much smaller numbers.
Richen is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "richen" or "riche", which means "powerful" or "strong". In some cases, it may have been a nickname for someone who was physically strong. In other instances, it may have been used to describe a prominent or respected individual.
In some cases, Richen may have derived from a given name, such as Richard. People bearing this last name are likely to have a variety of cultural backgrounds, as people moved into different regions and adopted various last names.
In recent years, Richen families have begun to reconnect as information is shared through internet search engines and social media. Reunions have had people from all over the world coming together, celebrating their shared heritage and histories.
It is believed that Richen was first used in the 12th or 13th century in what is now Germany, though its exact origins remain unknown. As the centuries progressed, the Richen surname spread throughout Europe and beyond, most likely in connection with emigration and migration patterns of German and Jewish people.
Variations of the surname Richen
Richen is a surname with derived forms in multiple countries and languages. In English, variants of Richen include Rychen, Richen, Richan, Rychen, Rhode and Rychenne. In Germany, the surname is spelled Riechen, Riechon, Riechenbach, Riechn, Richel, Riichen, Reiche, Rischon, Richenhagen and Rickenhagen.
In Hebrew, it is spelled ריכן. In Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish, variants include Rikhof, Rikoff, Rikhoff, Rikko, Rikho, Rikof, Rikhoff, Rikko and Rikhoef. In Faroese, it is spelled Riikjhús and Rikjhús. In Catalan, Spanish and Portuguese, it is spelled Ricó, Rico, Riquel, Ricónec, Richós, Ricós and Ricon.
In French, the surname is spelled Ricon, Riconne, Ricaud, Rians, Ricault, Richon, Richault, Ricay and Riant. In Italian, it is spelled Ricci, Ricciardelli, Riccomelli, Riscaccio, Ricino and Riccò.
The Croatian version of the surname is Rikon, while in Russian it is spelled as Rykon, Рикон, Риконь. In Ukrainian, the surname is spelled Рикон. In Polish and Czech, the surname is spelled Rychon and Růžek, respectively. In Hungarian, its variants include Ricsan and Rikon. In the Balkans, its variants include Rićin and Riton.
There are also several spellings of the Richen surname in the Asian countries. In China, it is known as Rikon. In Japan, the surname is spelled with the characters 利健. In Korea, it is spelled 리켄. In India, Richen is written as Rishin or Richend.
Famous people with the name Richen
- Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny, also known as ‘Little Miss Flint’, is an American activist and motivational speaker from Flint, Michigan.
- Nate Richert, an American Actor and musician best known for his portrayal of the heartthrob Harvey Kinkle in the TV series, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
- Warren Richen, an American rheumatologist and co-founder and long-time president of the Colorado Arthritis Center.
- Elye Richen, the former Mayor of Redlands, California.
- Shaun Richen, an American baseball player.
- Mary Richen, a British voice actress who voiced the character of Minea in the animated series, The World of David the Gnome.
- Kent Richen, a Canadian jurist who held two appointments to the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan.
- John Richen, a Dutch footballer who played as a defender for FC Twente, among other teams.
- Beth Sauerhaft, also known as Beth Richen, an American children's author.
- Carly Richen, the former Mayor of Silverton, Oregon.