Surname Wickrath - Meaning and Origin
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Wickrath: What does the surname Wickrath mean?
The last name Wickrath originates from the Germanic language spoken in various regions of Europe. It belongs to the sub-category of occupational surnames derived as a result of a person's occupation. In the case of the surname Wickrath, it is derived from the German words "Wicke" and "Rath" which together mean "watch or guard tower". It is likely that the person with the surname Wickrath was involved in a role of guarding some kind of tower.
The surname has a long history that dates back to the 12th century. In those days, most people were farmers and had family names based on their job or the place they lived. Wickrath likely started as a reference to towers that guarded villages or towns from near and far away enemies. As such, it was an important position of responsibility that was likely held by a family member or an extended family member.
Today, the surname Wickrath can be found across many European countries, as well as countries all around the world. It is associated with a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility, perhaps due to the origins of the name. The family name continues to be a reference to protecting a certain place, whether it is a tower, a house, or a place of business. With a long history of guard duty, Wickrath is a name associated with devotion and responsibility.
Order DNA origin analysisWickrath: Where does the name Wickrath come from?
The last name Wickrath is most commonly found in Germany, with a significant number of people bearing the name in the United States. It originated in the German region of Westfalen as a locative surname, which is a surname derived from the name of a place or region.
In Germany, the Wickrath surname is particularly prevalent in the North Rhine-Westphalia state and other nearby towns with the Wickrath spelling. The maps available through Ancestry.com indicate the surname can be found in the areas surrounding Cologne and Dusseldorf, including the cities of Duisburg-Ruhrort, Erftstadt, Heinsberg, and Solingen.
In the United States, the highest concentration of people bearing the name of Wickrath can be found in Pennsylvania, with points of origin for families from this region in both the East Coast and Midwest. Large families in Pennsylvania have traced their origins back to the small town of Ruppichteroth, which is just northeast of Bonn in Germany.
Little is known of the true ages and origins of the Wickrath surname. However, it is likely that this German family has had a home in Westfalen region for many centuries, and that many people have chosen to venture to the United States and other parts of the world to further their careers and build families of their own.
Variations of the surname Wickrath
The surname Wickrath is a spelling variant of the German surname Wikerath, originally derived from the place name Wickrath in North Rhine-Westphalia. Various variants of this surname have developed throughout Europe over the centuries, including the Dutch spelling of Wykrath and the French spelling Wickraire.
In addition to the original German form of the surname, there are a number of variations on its spelling. These can vary depending on the region in which the surname is used and include Wickerath, Wicrath, Wykrath, Wikerat, Wickerat, Wickraire, Wickrather, Wickrate, Wickraet, Witkrath, Weskrath, and Weckrath.
Although Wickrath is the most common spelling of the surname, there are some other spellings and forms which have been used. These include Wykracht, Wyckerath,Wickeratt, Wickerhott, Wykratht, Wicarakt, Wickerhaigh, Wickeratht, Wikerhott, Wikeratty, Wyckerott, Wickerford, and Wicherhoff.
As the surname has been around a long time, it has evolved and developed within different European countries and regions. This has led to various regional spellings of the surname, including Wiikrath (in Denmark), Wikrat (in Poland), Yikrath (in Spain), and Vikrath (in Norway).
The surname Wickrath has also been altered into different surnames, such as Wickerat, Wickeratt, Wikerat, Wickraire, Wizrath, and Wickrate.
Overall, the surname Wickrath encompasses numerous regional and variation spellings, as well as a variety of different surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Wickrath
- Freddie Wickrath: He was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who performed with various bands in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Clemens Wickrath: He was a German professional footballer who played in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
- Edith Wickrath: She was an American Broadway actress, known for her performances in various musicals during the 1930s and 1940s.
- Hans Wickrath: He was a German nobleman who served in the early sixteenth century as a diplomat and counselor to the courts of Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire.
- Gunter Wickrath: He was a German politician, elected as a member of the Reichstag in 1932.
- Albrecht Wickrath: He was a German artist who painted landscapes in the nineteenth century.
- Jacob Wickrath: He was a fourteen-year-old Swiss drummer who was killed in the Battle of the Wickrathberg during the War of the Austrian Succession in 1745.
- John Wickrath: He was an American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the clothing store chain, Wickrath's in 1901.
- Ernst Wickrath: He was a German sociologist and professor of education during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Martin Wickrath: He was a German linguist who studied the origins of German language in the nineteenth century.