Surname Reinken - Meaning and Origin
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Reinken: What does the surname Reinken mean?
The surname Reinken is a German locational name, which means it is derived from the name of a place where a person once lived or held land. It is believed to come from a place called Reinken in Germany, which was an old farmstead or settlement in the Northern part of the country.
The surname Reinken is an originally Bavarian name brought over to the United States by German and other European immigrants. It is most common in the southern states, specifically Florida, Texas, and North Carolina, but is also found in parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
The meaning of the name Reinken is derived from the words Rein and Ken, which together roughly translate as clean cone or clear cone. This could refer to either a hill or cone of sand or dirt that has been made clear of debris, or it could refer to the pointed shape of a cone-like object, and thus symbolizing the cleanliness of the area where the name originated. Regardless of its original meaning, it is still in use today as a distinctive surname.
Reinken is not a common name, but it has been around for many centuries. It is a reminder of the family's distant ancestors and the places they once called home, and for that reason, Reinken is a name and legacy worthy of respect and admiration.
Order DNA origin analysisReinken: Where does the name Reinken come from?
The last name Reinken is most common today in Germany and the Netherlands. It is also widely found in other parts of Europe such as Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. In the United States, the last name Reinken is much less common, but is still present in small numbers in some states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The roots of the surname Reinken trace back to Germany in the 13th century, where it is believed to have originated from either the Dutch or Low German language. The meaning of the name Reinken is thought to be derived from the Middle Dutch words for "ren" (rabbit) and "ken" (cage).
The Reinken family is said to have belonged to a prestigious noble family, which later went on to be known as the Hohenzollern. The Hohenzollern were a family of high-ranking aristocrats who held several important positions in the German Empire. Many members of the family eventually migrated westward to the United States, where they settled in places such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Today, notable people with the last name Reinken include the German-American engineer Johannes Reinken, who played an important role in the development of the first gasoline engine, and the Dutch artist and illustrator Marijke Reinken-Buijs.
Variations of the surname Reinken
Reinken is a common German surname that is also spelled as Rainken, Reinkin, Reinkens, Reyngken, and Rynken. It originates from the German word “Rinke”, meaning a small rope used in a fishing net. Accordingly, it is thought to have been used as a professional nickname for a fisherman or sailor.
Reinken is a popular family name in the Netherlands, where it originates from the Dutch term “rencken”, meaning “reins” or “bridle”. This noun was originally used to describe a craftsman that made or repaired equipment used in equestrian sports, such as saddles and reins.
In other parts of Germany, Reinken and its variations are also seen among the names of people who worked as ropemakers or sailmakers. This is because the word “rinke” was also used to describe rope and twine. Similarly, it could have been a professional nickname for a rope maker.
Reinken is associated with a few other surnames. Roynken and Ruyneken, for example, are derived from the Dutch word “royneke”, meaning “a young roe” or “roe deer”. Reinkamp is derived from the Dutch term “camp”, and it was originally given to people who lived on a piece of land owned by a local mayor or lord. Lastly, the surname Reiegel is a variation of the Dutch word “riegel”, which was used to describe someone who made rugs or carpets.
In conclusion, there are several variants, spellings, and variations of the Reinken surname. These include Rainken, Reinkin, Reinkens, Reyngken, Rynken, Roynken, Ruyneken, Reinkamp, and Reiegel. Altogether, these surnames all have their own unique origins, stories, and meanings.
Famous people with the name Reinken
- Johann Adam Reinken (1623: 1722) was a well-known German Baroque composer and one of the last important organists of the Smyrna school.
- Jurgen Reinken (born 1959) is a German former professional football midfielder who played for VfL Bochum, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Eintracht Frankfurt.
- Sons of Johann Adam Reinken: Johann Adam Reinken Jr. (1676: 1738) and Franz Ulrich Reinken (1690: 1776): both were significantly active in Harpsichord and organ pursuits.
- Fritz Reinken (1822: 188) was a German ophthalmologist who was a professor at the University of Strasburg.
- Herman Reinken (1866: 1943) was a German painter and art teacher. He joined artists' groups in Munich and later Berlin.
- Helmut Reinken (1906: 1993) was a German late Expressionist and Surrealist painter who also worked in the fields of photography and theater.
- Johann Reinken (1587: 1645) was a German organist and composer in the early Baroque period. He was known chiefly as an organist, being the most eminent master of the Amsterdam Smits school.
- Jakob Reinken (1711: 1785) was a German organist and had significant influence in the Magdeburg area.
- Christoph Reinken (born 1952) is a German professor of biochemistry and plant biology at the University of Kiel.