Surname Rölke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rölke: What does the surname Rölke mean?
The last name Rölke is an occupational name deriving from the Middle High German term “rolke.” This term refers to an individual who was a wheelmaker or a turner of wood, bone, and ivory.
The first recorded bearers of this surname were bearers of the name Rölcken, who were found in the region of Pomerania and East Prussia between the 11th and 13th centuries. From the Medieval period onwards, the name spread to many other countries in Europe, with the form Rölke becoming more common in Germany, Poland, and France.
The first known bearers of the surname had surname variants, such as Roelke, Röhlke, and Roleke, in addition to the more modern spelling, Rölke. The distribution of this name has been primarily in the German-speaking parts of Europe, with the densest concentrations being in Silesia, Pomerania, and East Prussia.
Because this name is derived from an occupational name, it is often associated with a type of value or skill. For instance, the name Rölke could be seen to convey an idea of craftsmanship and dexterity. The name could also be seen to indicate a connection to industry and the development of technology.
What is clear is that the name Rölke conveys a proud heritage of craftsmanship and skill in wheel and woodworking, which has been passed down for many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisRölke: Where does the name Rölke come from?
The surname Rölke is most commonly seen today in Germany. It is a German surname of eastern and northern German origin, which means "clearing". It is thought to either be an occupational name for someone who lived or worked in a clearing, or who moved from a rural area to a more urban area. The Rölke surname is most heavily concentrated in Berlin, where over 600 individuals with the surname currently reside. Additionally, the surname is also found in Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony, which are all states in Germany.
Outside of Germany, the surname can also be seen in the Netherlands. It is more sparsely found in other countries around Europe,including Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, and also in the United States. In the US, the greatest concentration of Rölke individuals is in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Rölke is a relatively uncommon surname - according to worldnames.publicprofiler.org, there are less than 3,000 people in the world who currently bear the surname. However, that number has grown significantly over the years, and it is likely to continue to increase as families that originated with the surname continue to spread out around the world.
Variations of the surname Rölke
The surname Rölke has a range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is Rölke, but it can also be written in a variety of ways, including Rölcken, Roelcken, Rolcken, Rölck, Rolck, Roelck and even Röllke. The German origin of the name means “he who ignites” or “he who sets alight”.
The surname is sometimes spelled with an umlaut, but there are also variants that are written without the umlaut, such as Rollke, Rollken, Rollcken, Rollck, Roellke, Rolleke and Roelke. Both spellings are quite common, but the variant with the umlaut is more prevalent.
In some cases, Rölke can be translated into English as “Rolls”. The name is also sometimes used in the combination form Rollke-Rölke. Over time, the name has been known to have been mistranslated to several other different spellings, such as Roelleke, Rölche, Roelke and Roelck.
The rarest variants of the surname Rölke are Rolberg, Roelberg, Rölbert, Roelbert and Röllberg. These variants are extremely rare and are typically found in the most rural communities of Germany.
To sum up, the surname Rölke has a range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, some common, some rare. The most common spelling is Rölke, but it can also be written in a variety of ways, such as Rölcken, Rollke, Rollken, Rollcken, Rollck, Roellke, Rolleke, Roelke and Roelck. In some cases, the name can be translated into English as “Rolls”. There are also rare variants, such as Rolberg, Roelberg, Rölbert, Roelbert and Röllberg, mostly found in rural German communities.
Famous people with the name Rölke
- Hannes Rölke: Hannes Rölke is a German politician and member of the Bundestag for the SPD since October 2017.
- Mercy Rölke: Mercy Rölke is a former German ice hockey player and current coach. She has been the captain of the national German women's ice hockey team and led them to two European titles.
- Uwe-Karsten Rölke: Uwe-Karsten Rölke is a retired German musicologist and conductor who has conducted a number of German orchestras such as the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Berliner Philharmoniker.
- Jens Rölke: Jens Rölke is a German architect and urban planner renowned for his pioneering work on conserving historic city centres and creating eco-friendly precincts.
- Jürgen Rölke: Jürgen Rölke is a German medical doctor who has spent more than four decades in Africa working in the fields of international health, education and development.
- Johannes Rölke: Johannes Rölke is a German physicist and historian of physics, specialising in astrophysical phenomena. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Rostock.
- Adrian Rölke: Adrian Rölke is a German jockey and athlete. He has won multiple races throughout Germany and lives near Cologne.
- Gert Rölke: Gert Rölke is a former German hockey player who played in the German National Hockey Team from 1994 to 2003.
- Janina Rölke: Janina Rölke is a German badminton player and the reigning German national champion in singles and doubles.
- David Rölke: David Rölke is a German footballer who plays as a left winger for FC Nürnberg in the 2.Bundesliga.