Surname Röttker - Meaning and Origin
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Röttker: What does the surname Röttker mean?
The German surname Röttker is derived from the Middle High German word rōttiker, which is thought to have been a nickname for someone with red colored hair. This derivation is also supported by the etymology of the word, which is thought to be derived from the Old High German words hrod (meaning “red” or “roan”) and ker (meaning “hair”).
The name Röttker is found primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Records show that the earliest known person with the surname Röttker was a Heinrich Röttker who lived in Frauenstein in Saxony in 1280. The first records of the Röttker family in Austria date back to the year 1523, when Ulrich Röttker is mentioned in a document. The Röttkers have lived in Austria ever since, and today they are still located in parts of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Vienna.
In modern times, it is likely that the surname Röttker has been passed down through multiple generations, with members of the same family often living in the same area, such as Vienna. Meanwhile, others may have left their home countries and spread across Europe and beyond.
Overall, the surname Röttker has a long history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. Its original meaning of “one with red hair” may still be relevant to some members of the family today, but the Röttkers of today likely represent a much wider variety of people from many different backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisRöttker: Where does the name Röttker come from?
The surname Röttker is a German surname that is thought to have originated in the medieval state of Bavaria. Its root element is the German word “Rote”, which means red, and the suffix “-ker” usually refers to a person or place associated with the root element, in this case red. The surname is likely derived from red-haired or red-clad individuals, or from someone associated with the color red in some other way.
Today, the last name Röttker is most commonly found in Germany and throughout Germanic-speaking countries. In the United States, according to the 2018 US Census, the last name “Röttker” is still relatively uncommon at only 674 people, but it is more prevalent in certain states. California has the most reported occurrences of this last name, followed by Texas and New York.
In terms of global occurrence of the surname, the German speaking countries are the strongest representatives. In Germany and Austria combined, approximately 1000 people are found with this name. Switzerland follows next with approximate 200 people with this last name. Furthermore, it is reported to be moderately common in Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, the UK, and Denmark.
Overall, although globally uncommon, the last name Röttker is still widely present around the world, particularly in parts of Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Röttker
The surname Röttker is of German origin and is also found as Rothkirch, Rottkirch, and Rotkirch. It is a topographic name meaning ‘red church’, and was most probably used to refer to somebody who lived near a church with a reddish colour roof. The name has been most commonly found in Germany and other Germanic countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
In addition to its original German spelling, the surname can be spelt in various ways and in other languages. Röttker can be spelt as Ratke, Rotteker, Rottke, Rotek, Rautke and Rautek, as well as Rothke, Rothkirch, Rottkirch, Rotkirch, and of course Rothker. These are all relatively similar spellings, differing mainly in the letter 't' or 'k'.
The surnames Rotjens and Röttgen can also be traced back to the same source as Röttker, and may have originated as a part of the same family or location at one point. Other related surnames include Rotter and Rottersmann, which are thought to be of Dutch origin and potentially derive from Röttker.
In conclusion, the surname Röttker is a German topographic name derived from the words ‘red’ and ‘church’, and has been found in various spellings across the German and Dutch regions. Those variants and extended surnames are Ratke, Rotteker, Rottke, Rotek, Rautke, Rautek, Rothke, Rothkirch, Rottkirch, Rotkirch, Rotjens, Röttgen, Rotter and Rottersmann.
Famous people with the name Röttker
- Bahar Röttker: Bahar Röttker is a German singer and songwriter. She is also a member of the band The Painted Hearts.
- Jean-Baptiste Röttger: Jean-Baptiste Röttker was a German privateer and naval officer, who carried out numerous raids against the English during the Napoleonic Wars.
- Mathias Röttger: Mathias Röttger is a German professional footballer who currently plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga.
- Heinrich Röttger: Heinrich Röttger was a German features and animator, most famously known as the lead animator for the groundbreaking anime series Evangelion.
- Peter Röttger: Peter Röttger is a former German footballer who played in the Bundesliga for Herzogenaurach and 1860 Munich, as well as for various other clubs in the German lower leagues.
- Johannes Röttger: Johannes Röttger was a German copperplate engraver who is best known for his engravings made for the art historical publication “Sammlung der grössten Kupferstich-Kabinet.”
- Bernhard Röttger: Bernhard Röttger was a German art historian who specialized in the art from the Northern Renaissance and Baroque periods.
- Günther Röttger: Günther Röttger was a German Olympic athlete, who competed in the sprint and relay races at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
- Karl Röttger: Karl Röttger was a German-Jewish physician and teacher, who lost his life during the Holocaust.
- Sebastian Röttger: Sebastian Röttger is a German actor and musician, best known for his appearances in the films The Wave and Kotzendes Ei.