Surname Rapelge - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rapelge: What does the surname Rapelge mean?
The last name Rapelge is of German origin and is believed to have derived from the name Rapelgau, which roughly translates to “Rapel river valley”. This likely implies that the family originated in a region near a river called Rapid.
Rapelge is a common surname in the Netherlands as well as Germany and France. It is an example of a habitational surname, meaning that it was traditionally used to denote the geographical origin of the bearer. Habitational surnames derived from geographic areas are typically some of the earliest types of surnames used and even today remain popular.
Some people with the last name Rapelge are likely to be related to each other by family; however, other people with the same name may share no relation at all. This is because the name arose independently in multiple places and time periods.
The surname Rapelge has an interesting historical meaning, and today is considered a unique family name. Those who bear it have a connection to a place of origins and a sense of legacy that can be traced back for generations.
Order DNA origin analysisRapelge: Where does the name Rapelge come from?
The last name Rapelge is common today in a few countries, primarily in France and Germany. In France, the Rapelge family is actually quite prominent, stemming from a few distinct lines of wealthy and powerful nobles. The Rapelges of France have a history stretching back to at least the 15th century, where they served both under the French king and the House of Savoy as members of the military and governors of provinces. In modern times, the Rapelge name is still very common in the Aveyron, Lot, and Tarn, departments of France.
In Germany, the Rapelge family is a bit more obscure, the name appearing only in a few records from the 15th century, often with North German or Flemish origins. In modern times, there are some who carry the surname in Germany, but it is thought to derive from a different source than the French line of the family, most likely from German emigrants in the 18th century coming from the Rhineland. The last name could also derive from those of Dutch or Flemish origin during the same period.
In both France and Germany, however, the name Rapelge only appears in a handful of records. So while it can still be considered a relatively common last name in those countries, it is still far from being one of the most popular surnames in either France or Germany.
Variations of the surname Rapelge
The surname Rapelge is of German origin. It is derived from the German name 'Rappel' and the suffix '-ege', which is a regional variant of the German name 'öge'. It is speculated that it was created as a patronymic surname, whereby the given name Rappel was used to form a surname.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Rapelge include Rappelge, Rappells, Rappel, Rapple, Raphael, Rapp, Rapidle, Rapel, and Rapelk.
Rappelge is found primarily in Germany, but variations of the surname have appeared in other countries including Austria, the Netherlands, and the United States.
In German, the spelling Rapelge appears most commonly in the written record, although other variant spellings have been documented.
Rappel is the most common variant spelling, followed by Rapple, Raphael, Rap, and Rapidle. The 'öge' suffix of the German original has been replaced with various spellings including 'le', 'les', 'els', 'ge' and 'gle'.
Variations of the surname have been found in other languages, such as Dutch. In the Netherlands, it is spelled as Rapels, Rapelle or Rapelsge.
In the United States, variations of the surname Rapelge include Rappols, Rapowski, Rapps, and Rappooli. These are thought to be the result of alterations made by immigrants to their surnames to make them more easily pronounced.
Overall, the surname Rapelge has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Rapelge
- Pharrell Williams: rapper, hip-hop artist, and record producer.
- Kenneth Rapelje: golfer and former member of the PGA Tour
- Sam Rapelje: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Tony Rapelge: NBA and ABA basketball player
- Sir Harry Rapelge: British Actor
- Danny Rapelge: actor and stuntman
- David Rapelge: economist and professor
- H.M. Rapelge: comic book writer and artist
- Alice Rapelge: Actress
- Sydell Rapelge: Writer
- Marietta Rapelge: television writer
- Katherine Rapelge: American politician