Surname Rehbeck - Meaning and Origin
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Rehbeck: What does the surname Rehbeck mean?
The last name Rehbeck is of German origin and has several potential meanings and origins. One interpretation is derived from the Middle High German phrase "rahbeke", which refers to a small forest or thicket. This could suggest a place of origin, occupation or even a successful hunting ground. Alternatively, the name could be formed from the Old High German elements “rîh”, which literally means “honor, worth”, and “bech”, which means “stream”, so the literal meaning would be “honorable stream.” The origin of the last name in this context could be connected to the name of a stream found near the person’s home.
Rehbeck is also a variant of the name Rahbek, which also has similar roots and meanings. This may suggest the name could be connected to the Rahbeck family, an aristocratic family from the 14th century who lived in what is now part of Germany. Today, there are still a fair number of people who bear the surname Rehbeck, primarily in the United States, Germany and Scandinavia.
The surname Rehbeck, and its variants, represent a long and vibrant family history with roots in Germany, Scandinavia and elsewhere. Its various origins and meanings suggest it has long served as more than simply a surname – quite likely a source of pride, honor and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisRehbeck: Where does the name Rehbeck come from?
The last name Rehbeck is most commonly found in Germany today. It is especially prevalent in Lower Saxony and the surrounding states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony-Anhalt. The Rehbeck surname is often traced back to its earliest known use in the 12th century when the family was located in Brandenburg. Today, the Rehbeck surname is especially common around the city of Hamburg and in the Greifswald and Wittstock areas of eastern Germany.
In addition to Germany, the Rehbeck surname is also commonly found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, and Switzerland. According to Ancestry.com, there are now upwards of 45,000 people with the Rehbeck surname living in Europe. It is likely that most of them are descended from the 12th century Brandenburg family.
The Rehbeck surname has also spread to countries outside of Europe since the 19th century. North America is now home to families with the last name Rehbeck that are likely descended from German families who immigrated during the 19th century. Notably, people with the Rehbeck name now live in large cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
Finally, the surname Rehbeck is also found in places such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, primarily thanks to 19th century European Immigration waves. It is also likely that the Rehbeck last name has spread to other countries across the globe too, with many Rehbecks likely to have emigrated to Asia, South America, and beyond.
Variations of the surname Rehbeck
The surname Rehbeck is generally of German origin and has multiple spellings. Some of the most common variants of this surname include Rehbek, Rehbeke, Rehberg, Rehbock, Rehböck, and Rehboeck. The alternate spellings of Rehbeck are sometimes found with an 'h' assumed to replace the 'e', with Rehbeck becoming Rehbhck.
The German origins of this name trace back to its earliest appearance, Rehboc, referenced in East Prussia in the year 1550. Interestingly, similar surnames can be found in French records in the form of Rebberg, and those of Dutch, where the name would be recorded as Rehboeck or Rehbock.
The most common origins of the Rehbeck surname are known as case-name or habitation-name, indicating the exact location from which the surname was first derived. An example of this is the place Rehbeck, located in North Germany, which is the assumed origin of the Rehbeck surname.
Despite its origination in Germany, the surname is now most commonly found in many countries, each with its own variations in the spelling of Rehbeck. Within the USA, Rehbeck has become Rehbeke, while in England and Scotland, Rehbeck has also been replaced by Rehbock and Rebbeck. In addition, the Hungarian variant of this surname is Rajbek or Rojbek, with Rajbec often used in Czechia, and Rhebeck or Rhbeck in Germany.
Famous people with the name Rehbeck
- Nick Rehbeck: professional baseball player
- Kim Rehbeck: former professional golfer
- Judy Rehbeck: actress and former beauty queen
- Craig Rehbeck: artist and author
- Will Rehbeck: YouTuber
- Debbie Rehbeck: sculptor
- Bob Rehbeck: former baseball player
- Tom Rehbeck: marine biologist and popular TED speaker
- Joe Rehbeck: jazz musician
- Barry Rehbeck: Major League Baseball umpire