Surname Rappelje - Meaning and Origin

Rappelje: What does the surname Rappelje mean?

The last name Rappelje is of French origin. It is believed to derive from a nickname for a noisy or clamorous person, from the French word "rappeler" meaning "to recall or recollect". However, there isn't much information available about the exact meaning or origin of this surname. It is stated that some immigrants in the United States with the surname Rappelje may have changed the spelling to Rapelje or Rapalyea for pronunciation purposes. Surnames often marked a person's occupation, characteristics or came from the names of places. Therefore, the precise meaning of the surname Rappelje may arise from such origins, which are more difficult to trace back.

Rappelje: Where does the name Rappelje come from?

The last name Rappelje is most common in the Netherlands, especially in the northern, central and western regions of the country. This surname is also seen in small numbers in other countries in Europe such as Germany and Sweden as well as in former Dutch colonies like the United States, Canada, Suriname and South Africa.

According to the 2000 census in the United States, the last name Rappelje was the 28,152nd most common surname, showing that the Dutch heritage of this name is evident even across the ocean. It can also be seen among some Jewish populations in the United States and other countries, brought over by immigrants during the Second World War.

The Netherlands is home to the largest population of people with the last name Rappelje. The city of Amersfoort has the largest number of families with this name. It is fairly rare in other cities in the Netherlands, with the number of occurrences decreasing as you move further from the city.

Overall, the last name Rappelje is found mainly in the Netherlands and other countries of Northern and Western Europe. It is also found in a few former colonies in the Americas and Africa. Its prevalence in the Americas is a reminder of the immigration of Dutch people during the Second World War.

Variations of the surname Rappelje

Rappelje is a patronymic surname derived from "Rappe", a shortened form of the given name "Raphaël". The surname Rapelje is the Dutch and Flemish spelling. Common variants include Rapple, Rappaport, Rapael, Rappleman, Rapplemann, Raph, Raphale, Raphel, Raphalman, Raphalmann, Rappel, Rappleman, Rappman, Rappelmann, Rappeles, Rapples, Rappalje, Rappeles, Rapalje and Rappelle. Other spellings may also exist.

In France, the name is a variant of Raphaël and is spelt Raphaël or Raphael. In some countries, a more Anglicized version, reple, of the original name Rappe exists.

In southern Germany, many families with the surname Rappelje have adopted to the spelling, Rappel.

In the United Kingdom, another Anglicized spelling of the surname is Rapley.

Among Polish and some other Eastern European Jews, the name is often rendered as Rappel and similarly, in the Russian language, the name is spelt as Rappel.

In the United States, some emigrants with this surname have changed the surname spelling to Rapple or Raptel.

There are a variety of surnames of similar origins which Rabail, Reppell, Rabeel, Robel, Rubel and Rubell can also be considered as variants.

Famous people with the name Rappelje

• Joris Rappelje: Dutch politician, former leader of the Labour Party (PvdA).
• Laurens Rappelje (1720–1798): Colonial American patriot.
• Anseon Rappelje (1745–1806): Colonial American Patriot.
• Jacob Rappelje (1746–1828): Son of Laurens and Anseon, second U.S. marshal in New York City.
• Jeromus Rappelje (1807–1887): Son of Jacob, sixth U.S. marshal in New York City.
• Harmonie Banta Rappelje (1816–1890): American author and suffragist.
• Abraham A. Rappelje (1856–1926): American businessman and politician.
• Theodore Rappel (1872–1941): American newspaper publisher and editor.
• C. Harry Rappelje (1876–1960): American banker and former president of Lincoln National Bank.
• Cora Banta Rappelje (1890–1962): American historian and librarian.

Other surnames

Rappelt