Surname Reeke - Meaning and Origin
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Reeke: What does the surname Reeke mean?
The last name Reeke is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an occupational surname that is derived from the Old English reoc, meaning "sparrow-hawk." It is believed that the Reeke family was likely affiliated with falconry, a sport that dates back to ancient times and requires the use of specially trained hawks. The surname was likely given to someone who bred or trained such birds for the sport, or as a sign of status.
The Reeke surname is found primarily in The United Kingdom, particularly in the region of Lancashire, as well as other European countries such as Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. It is also stored in the United States, where it may be spelled differently depending on the dialect of English such as Reeke, Reeks, Reekes, Reik, Reikers, or Reiker.
Today, those with the last name Reeke are proud to carry on the tradition of their ancestors and may take part in the sport of falconry or appreciate the beauty of sparrow-hawks in the wild. In some cases, notable individuals with the Reeke surname have gone on to achieve success in their respective fields, but all descendants of the family can be proud of their connection to a time-honored activity, and the tradition of excellence that is associated with it.
Order DNA origin analysisReeke: Where does the name Reeke come from?
The last name Reeke is common in the United States, according to records from the US Census Bureau. It is most frequently found in Pennsylvania, where it is ranked 402nd most common surname in the state. From there, other states with high concentrations of the name include Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota. All of these states have Reeke surnames in the top 1000 of their state lists.
On a global scale, the Reeke surname is most commonly found in Germany, followed by South Africa, the United Kingdom, and then the United States. The estimated current global population of the Reeke surname is 4,500.
The Reeke surname is of German origin. Variants such as Reeg, Rek, Rike, and Reike are also found primarily in Germany. Historically, the Reeke name was most concentrated in the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. During the late 1700s, many of these descendants of the Reeke name immigrated to the United States, which is why it is now most commonly found in our country.
The Reeke name is now mostly located in the United States, though it is slowly spreading to other countries. Interesting facts about the Reeke surname include its prominent use by author and professor Sofia Reeke Couvalis, although she was actually born in Greece. The name Reeke has also been used as the middle name of many children born to the Reeke family in eastern and western countries.
Variations of the surname Reeke
The surname Reeke has many variants, spellings, and derivatives that are derived from the same origin. These include Reek, Reeker, Reak, Reakes, Reakie, Reack, Reaks, Reakey, Reakese, Reacke, Reaksey, Reace, Reackeand, Reekeand, Reakeyand, Reekeand, Reacher, Reakess, Reackand, Recke, Recks, Reckeand, Reckey, Reccke, Rechso, Rech, Rechs, Rechsen, Rechsey, Rechski, and Reescke.
Typically, the surname Reeke has been found in Germany, The Netherlands, Lowlands, England, South Africa, and the United States. Variants of the surname Reeke that are more specifically related to Germany and the Netherlands are Reeker, Reek, Reekers, Reeg, Reeger, Reeghers, and Reegts.
In England, the surname Reeke is common among the families that trace their heritage to the Cambrian Mountains of Wales and can be spelled Reeks or Reakes. Variants of Reeke that are more specific to England can include Reece, Rees, Rhys, Rice, Rush, Ryske, and Rushon.
In the United States, the Reeke surname is typically spelled Reek or Reakes as this is the preferred spelling by American descendants of the Reeke families. Variants are typically phonetic spellings such as Reoke, Reak, and Reike.
Famous people with the name Reeke
- Gary Reeke, Jr.: Gary Reeke, Jr. is an American songwriter and record producer. He was part of the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.
- Rob Reeke: Rob Reeke is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Bachelor Party (1984).
- Nick Reeke: Nick Reeke is an American voice actor, best known for voicing the characters of Sigmund and Captain Caveman on the Cartoon Network show Code Monkeys.
- Robby Reeke: Robby Reeke is an American actor and martial artist. He is best known for his roles in the films Redbelt (2008) and The Incredible Hulk (2008).
- Chris Reeke: Chris Reeke is an American producer, writer, director, and actor, best known for his work in the films The Summerland Project (2018), Reverie (2018), and Red Hostage (2018).
- Billy Reeke: Billy Reeke is an American author and illustrator best known for his book Red Robot Planet (2010).
- Don Reeke: Don Reeke is an American poet and short-story writer whose work has been published in numerous literary magazines and journals.
- Paul Reeke: Paul Reeke is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Coward of the County (1981) and Best of the Best (1989).
- Marley Reeke: Marley Reeke is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known for his roles in films such as Suburban Gothic (2014), Splitting Adam (2015), and Silent Youth (2018).