Surname Gerecke - Meaning and Origin
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Gerecke: What does the surname Gerecke mean?
The last name Gerecke is of German origin, and is thought to come from either the personal name Georg or Eberhard. These personal names themselves come from the root words gare (spear) and gerg (strong). The name thus literally translates to someone who is strong and wields a spear.
This surname was popular in Germany in the Middle Ages, and it has grown to become one of the most common German surnames today. This widespread use is likely due to religious influences - in particular, Martin Gerecke, a senior pastor of the Lutheran church during the troubled years of the Nazi Germany regime. His courage in helping persecuted Jews and other minorities earned him recognition, making his name (and thus his surname) legendary.
The last name Gerecke is also found in many other parts of Europe, with variations such as Gerik, Gericke or Gregke. It's found in many European countries, including Germany, Austria, Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.
The surname Gerecke most likely symbolizes a sense of strength, bravery, resilience and compassion, due to its association with Martin Grecke and his heroic acts during the Nazi Germany era.
Order DNA origin analysisGerecke: Where does the name Gerecke come from?
The last name Gerecke is a German name historically found mainly in Northern Germany. During the past two centuries, it has spread to other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Today, Gerecke is most common in Germany, where it is one of the top 1,000 surnames in the country. It is also found in countries all around the world, as it has spread through families and migration.
In the United States, Gerecke is a relatively rare surname, ranking 13,378th out of 88,799 recorded surnames in the United States. It is most popular in Nebraska and Kansas, with over 200 occurrences in each state. In Canada, Gerecke is similarly uncommon, coming in a distant 4,802nd out of 90,716 names recorded.
In Latin America, Gerecke is also relatively rare, ranking 9,299th in Mexico out of a population of 118 million. Outside of the Americas, Gerecke is also found in countries across Europe, such as Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Overall, Gerecke is a relatively uncommon surname, with its current highest concentration found in Germany. Despite its rarity, the last name has spread to many countries and can be found across Europe, North America, and Latin America.
Variations of the surname Gerecke
The surname Gerecke is an old German name of uncertain origin. It is found in several Swiss cantons, including Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. It is also sometimes spelled Gärecke or Gӕrecke, and can also be found as the more French-inflected Gérèque. There are also some related names, such as Gerecke-Zürcher, Gäregge, Geregge, Geerke, Gӕrke, Gӕrke-Faller, and Gercken.
Most of these variants are derived from the same root - the Old German word Gerecke, which has meant "guard" or "watchman" since the 12th century. It is also possible that the name is derived from the Old High German Geric, meaning "spear".
In some cases, such as with the variations Gӕrecke and Gӕrke, the names may simply be phonetic variants that have arisen over time, while the variant Geregge could have been a diminutive form of the original Gerecke, meaning "son of Gerecke". The Gӕrke-Faller variant may indicate that the original bearer of the name was involved in falconry.
Gerecke is a popular surname in Germany and can be found all over the country, particularly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, as well as its neighboring regions. It is even more common in the United States, where, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 12,000 people are currently using it.
Famous people with the name Gerecke
- Oskar Gerecke (1894-1974), German theologian, professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Berlin, and one of the leading figureheads of Neo-orthodoxy.
- Katrin Gerecke (born 1962), German journalist, filmmaker and former member of the band Rote Gitarren.
- Kónrad Gerecke, (born 1950), German film producer.
- Anna Gerecke (born 1941), German philosopher.
- Eduard Gerecke (1807-1888), notable Danish-German violinist and composer.
- Frank Gerecke (born 1967), German politician and member of the state parliament of Hesse.
- Helmut Gerecke (1912-1979), former Luftwaffe officer.
- Theodor Gerecke (1809-1887), German jurist.
- Karl Gerecke (1859-1907), German astronomer.
- Andries Gerecke (1602-1676), Dutch landscape painter.