Surname Ricksen - Meaning and Origin

Ricksen: What does the surname Ricksen mean?

The last name Ricksen is mostly associated with Dutch and Norwegian backgrounds. In Dutch, the name comes from the word 'Rik' or 'Rijksen', with 'Rik' meaning 'rich' and 'en' being a common suffix in Dutch. To the Norwegians, the surname is thought to have derived from the personal name ‘Rikke’, which is an old Scandinavian name.

The traditional interpretation of the name is that it denotes a person who was well-known or held power within their community. It was believed that a person who held power and was wealthy would have a surname that reflected this, such as Ricksen. This is also the same for the Dutch interpretation of the name, with being rich and powerful being associated with the surname.

Within the Netherlands, the surname is quite widespread, consisting of several hundreds of people throughout the country. Multiple locations, events, and businesses have also adopted the name, such as restaurants, hotels, and even a karaoke bar. In Norway, the name is not quite as permeated, with fewer-than-fifty people listed as having the surname.

Overall, the last name Ricksen is strongly associated with wealthy and powerful individuals from either Dutch or Norwegian backgrounds. The origin and interpretation of the word de-pends on who you are asking, but financial and professional success seems to be a common thread among those who carry this surname.

Ricksen: Where does the name Ricksen come from?

The last name Ricksen is common today mostly in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. This Dutch surname is derived from a combination of the words 'ric' and 'sen', which may mean 'son of the powerful one'. In the Netherlands, the name is in the top 500 most frequent last names, coming in at spot 394. It is also found in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, as well as in small enclaves in parts of northern Belgium and sometimes even in France.

Ricksen can be found in other parts of the world due to emigration from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Records from the US suggest that the name was first used there in the 19th century. Many of those carrying the name today are likely descendants of people who traveled to Central and South America and to the Anglophone countries. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people bear the name Ricksen in the US today.

The name is also found in countries in other continents mainly due to emigrants from the Netherlands and Belgium. Today, thousands of people with the name Ricksen are spread across the globe, giving the name an international presence in the 21st century.

Variations of the surname Ricksen

Ricksen is a surname of Dutch origin, derived from the given name, Rick. It may also be spelled as Rixen, Ricx, or Ricks. Variants of the surname include Ricksma, Rickse, and Rixe.

Ricksen appears to be a patronymic surname, derived from the father's given name, Rick. As such, some variations of the surname may also change the suffix –en to –s, Rickss; -ink, Ricksink; –ma, Ricksma; -se, Rickse; and -x, Ricx.

It is also possible to find surnames like Rixen, Ricksen-Weyers, and Ricksen-Keijzers, which may represent a two-part surname origin. In this case, both Rick and Sen or Weyers or Keijzers have been combined to form the double-barrelled surname.

In family history research, it is important to be aware of possible variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that may be linked to the family. This may help to establish relationships between different people who are researching the same ancestral line. In some cases, surnames may not have been passed down in a consistent form, changing due to shifts in language and spelling. It is important to be thorough when researching and to consider all possibilities.

Famous people with the name Ricksen

• Fernando Ricksen: retired Dutch professional footballer
• Ryan Ricksen: British pop punk artist
• Paul Ricksen: American music executive and entrepreneur
• Kody Ricksen: American fashion model and actor
• Tara Ricksen: Romanian Olympic swimming medalist
• Nelson Ricksen: South African artist and sculptor
• Thomas Ricksen: Dutch professional footballer
• Will Ricksen: Canadian ice hockey player
• Steve Ricksen: Australian professional golfer
• Daisy Ricksen: British actress

Other surnames

Ricks