Surname Roggenbrod - Meaning and Origin
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Roggenbrod: What does the surname Roggenbrod mean?
The surname Roggenbrod (sometimes spelled Roggenbrot or Roggenbrote) is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "roggenbrot" meaning "rye bread." It is likely that the original bearer of this surname was a baker, or at least a seller of rye bread.
The specific geographic origin of the Roggenbrod surname is unknown, but records indicate it was present in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1672, Johan Roggenbrot re-located to Franconia, Germany. Many members of the Roggenbrod family moved to the United States between the late 19th and mid 20th centuries.
By the current conventions of Scottish and Irish heraldry, the Roggenbrod family is likely a Sept of the larger Clan MacKintosh; at least they share a single origin for their respective surnames, each from the Middle High German “roggenbrot.”
Today, the Roggenbrod family name is most frequency found in Germany, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. There also may be some members of the Roggenbrod family in the United States, although the name is not particularly common.
Order DNA origin analysisRoggenbrod: Where does the name Roggenbrod come from?
The last name Roggenbrod is thought to be of German origin. It could have also originated from a place such as Roggenbrodt in Germany, Roggenbrod in Denmark, or Roggenbrodt in Switzerland. Today, Roggenbrod is most common in the United States, with the largest concentration residing in Pennsylvania.
According to the 2019 US Census, there were 905 people in the US with the last name Roggenbrod. The states with the highest household numbers included Pennsylvania (with the highest at 293) followed by California, Ohio, and New York (each with roughly 50 households or less). While the last name is still representationally spread out across the country, it is most popular in the mid-Atlantic states and the Midwest.
Additionally, many people with the Roggenbrod last name have moved around the world. According to records, Roggenbrod families can be found in France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, and Canada, and Australia too.
The Roggenbrod surname is relatively rare today, but its commonality trend should not be underestimated. Consistent with many other last names of German origin, the Roggenbrod name is making a comeback. With largely dispersed records, it is possible that many other people with the last name have yet to be accounted for.
Variations of the surname Roggenbrod
The surname Roggenbrod is one of German origins, and it can be written and spelled in several ways. These include Roggenbruch, Roggenburg, Roggenbauer, Roggenbach, and Roggenauer. A variant form of this surname in the United States is Ruggaber.
The Roggenbruch variant appears to be derived from a Middle High German root word roggin meaning “rye” combined with the Middle Low German term bruche meaning “swamp or moor”. This suggests a literal translation of “rye swamp” or “rye moor” as an original geographic place of origin. The Roggenburg form of the surname appears to derive from the Middle High German root word renc meaning “fortification” combined with roggin and burg meaning “fortified place”.
The Roggenbauer variant may be the result of a common practice in earlier times whereby a man or woman held at least one property through a multi-generational, hereditary grant from a local or regional government. This practice meant the person could take the last name of the property, such as Roggenbauer which would have referred to a document or other asset indicating rights to, control or ownership of the property in question.
The Roggenbach variant appears to combine elements roggin and bach meaning “brook or stream”, and may indicate a geographic landmark such as a river or stream crossed by a bridge.Finally, the Roggenauer variant would be derived from combining several German key words such as roggin, ritra meaning “property” or “estate”, and wer meaning “dwelling place of”.
Famous people with the name Roggenbrod
- Frank Roggenbrod: Award-winning American cinematographer and director known for his work on films such as Eve's Bayou and Dancer in the Dark.
- Sven Roggenbrod: German tennis player and two-time winner of the Wimbledon Men's Doubles championship between 1977 and 1979.
- Thomas Roggenbrod: German photographer and multimedia artist, known for his photo series capturing tender moments of everyday life in rural areas.
- Fritz Roggenbrod: Best remembered for his classic designs of Germanic silverware displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
- Sarah Roggenbrod: Award-winning American writer and poet, most famous for her collection A Body of Erratic Stones.
- Michael Roggenbrod: Acclaimed American novelist, known for his series of dystopian works such as Finality and The Envoy.
- John Roggenbrod: Founding member of the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and advocate for the environment throughout his life.
- Theodore Roggenbrod: Recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948 for his play Mistress of the Inn, which was later adapted into a Hollywood movie.
- Walter Roggenbrod: Noted German poet and essayist, best known for his work Letters to My Grandson.
- Meg Roggenbrod: American actress and Academy Award-nominated actress, mostly remembered for her roles in films such as Horton Hears a Who! and Cinderella.