Surname Recknagel - Meaning and Origin

Recknagel: What does the surname Recknagel mean?

Recknagel is a German surname with unclear and possibly multiple derivations. It is popularly said to be occupational, specifically relating to an early medieval job role which is now obsolete. The term "reck" in old German can refer to "care" or "concern" implying that early holders of this surname may have had occupations related to care-giving or guardianship. The suffix "nagel", on the other hand, can translate to "nail", which might indicate the guild of blacksmiths or related metalworking crafts.

However, there's also a possibility that the surname may be topographic, coming from a combination of "reck" (to smoke or steam) and "nagel" (rock or stone) which suggests an origin from some geological feature like a steaming or smoking rock. In any event, the true meaning of the surname Recknagel can mostly be inferred through conjecture based on the possible meanings of its elements.

Recknagel: Where does the name Recknagel come from?

The surname Recknagel can most commonly be found in Germany today. It is an originally German surname, likely deriving from the old German word reckanagil, meaning “protective armor”.

This surname was originally found in the Rhineland and surrounding areas of Germany. According to recent data, Recknagel is the 1,125th most common German surname, held by around 4,100 people in Germany. However, due to the Dreikaiserbund, a series of treaties made in 1818–1881 out of which another form of the name was derived (rzeknagel), Recknagel can also be found in parts of Poland, Hungary and other eastern parts of Europe which have strong ties to Germany.

The name is a popular one in the USA as well; according to records, it was first brought into the US in the late 19th century. Today, it is the 23,213th most common surname in the US, held by around 2,750 people.

Outside of Germany, the United States is the most likely place to find the surname Recknagel, though it can still be found commonly in other parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Recknagel

The Recknagel surname is a German/Austrian occupational name referring to someone who worked as a saddle maker. The surname is derived from the Middle High German word 'Rieghenackel', which means anvil. Variants of the surname include Rengnagel, Reckengel, Rekenagel, Reckengel, Reschengel, Rexengel, Reskeghel, Rechnegel, Rengenegel, Regnegel, Rekenegel, Rechenagel, Rakingel, Rugeknegel and Renkengel.

Originally, the Recknagel surname was primarily found in the German speaking regions of Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland. It is still most popular in these regions, however modern-day occurrences have been reported in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as people bearing the Recknagel name have emigrated throughout modern history.

Recknagel can also be spelt Rekenagel in some dialects of German. The spelling of the surname may have been altered by both immigrants and government rule, as many immigrants chose to americanise their surname upon immigration.

In addition to the variants listed above, there are also numerous spelling variations of the surname Recknagel. Surnames like Rekenage, Recenage, Recenagel, Reknagel, Reknagel, Rexnagel, Rexengel, Reckengel, Reckengel are often only found in certain regions of Europe.

Famous people with the name Recknagel

• Hans Recknagel: German Olympic athlete and sprinter who won a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at the 1948 Summer Games in London.
• Franz Recknagel: Austrian photfreeze climber who was the first recorded climber to ascend to the summit of the Matterhorn by a direct route in 1865.
• Herrmann Recknagel: German industrialist in the late 19th century who was the founder of Recknagel Machine Works.
• Harmon Recknagel: American watercolor artist known for his landscape and equestrian paintings.
• Wilhelm Recknagel: one of the most influential German baroque composers who wrote several seminal works in the early 18th century.
• Johann Recknagel: German composer and organist who served as an organist in churches in German-speaking countries in the early 1900s.
• Adolph Recknagel: German astronomer who first observed and recorded the Orion Nebula in the mid-19th century.
• Heinz Recknagel: German physicist and aeronautical engineer who contributed to the aerodynamics of aircraft starting in World War I.
• Robert Recknagel: American politician, lawyer, and merchant who was credited as one of the founders of the town of Texas City, Texas in 1895.
• Carl Recknagel: German art collector best known for his extensive collection of early Modernist paintings from the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Other surnames

Recknagle