Surname Reken - Meaning and Origin

Reken: What does the surname Reken mean?

Reken is a Dutch surname derived from the Old Dutch word for "calculate" or "reckon". In Dutch, the word is spelled as "rekenen". It is likely that, centuries ago, the first bearers of the surname Reken were known for their skill in mathematics or accounting-related activities.

Alternative spellings of the Reken surname include Reeken, Rekenaar, Rieken, Reekens, Riekens, Rekeners, and Rikens.

Reken is a common surname in the Netherlands, where it usually has Germanic roots. In Dutch language records of the 17th century, the name was mostly to be found in the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen, Friesland, and Flevoland.

People with the Reken surname may have historical connections to a small, rural area in Germany near the Küsten Canal. This small area is located within the Kreis Friesland district and is home to the villages of Reken and Fürstenau.

Overall, the Reken surname is deeply rooted in the Netherland and Germany, and likely has its origins in mathematics or accounting activities. Over time, it has become more widely dispersed in both Germany and the Dutch provinces.

Reken: Where does the name Reken come from?

Reken is a German surname which is most commonly found in Germany and the surrounding countries such as Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also found among German emigrants in other countries, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.

The name Reken is derived from the German root word "Reken", which means "enclosed meadow". This suggests an origin in an agricultural region such as Northern Germany. The first record of the name dates back to the 13th century when it appeared in several documents in Prussia.

The Reken family is believed to have spread over the centuries from their original German homeland. Some of the family members left their homes in search of a better life and settled in different countries around the world. It is estimated that today over twenty thousand people throughout the world bear the surname Reken.

In the United States, the surname Reken is most commonly found in the Great Lakes region such as Wisconsin. It is also quite common in the Midwest states such as Minnesota and Iowa. In the eastern states, such as Pennsylvania and New York, it is less common.

The name Reken is not exceptionally common in any single area, but it does have a distinct presence in many countries, including the United States.

Variations of the surname Reken

The surname Reken has a variety of spellings and variants in use today. Most common variants of the name include Reekan, Reikin, Rekening, Rekun, Rekunu, Reichin, Rechkin, and Recken. It is also sometimes seen spelled as Raeken and Reakon.

Reken is an old Germanic surname and is said to derive from the German phrase "rih king" which translates to “strong king” or “mighty ruler”. Alternatively, it may derive from the Old High German given name "Rikon" or the Old German name "Ricoh".

This surname may also have developed independently in Scandinavian countries as a variant of the surname Rasmus. However, this interpretation is not as widely accepted and is not as popular as the German etymology.

Regardless of its origin, variations on the name Reken can be found throughout Europe. In some areas, such as Germany and France, this name has even been modified to resemble a local given name, such as Reka in France and Rekin in Germany. Additionally, in some cases, the name has become a diminutive, appearing as Rekena, Rekene, and Rekine.

All in all, the surname Reken has many variants, spellings, and surnames that can be traced back to the same origin.

Famous people with the name Reken

• Paco Reken: Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Spanish club CF Fuenlabrada.
• Harrie Reken: Dutch water polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics and 1948 Summer Olympics.
• Ties Reken: Dutch track and field athlete who won silver in the 800 meters at the 1974 European Athletics Championships.
• Markus Reken: German professional footballer who currently plays for FC Hansa Rostock in the 3.Liga.
• Mo Reken: American singer-songwriter based in California whose music throws back to the vibes of the 1960s and 70s soulful/folk rock.
• Bart Reken: Dutch professional basketball player currently playing for ZZ Leiden in the Dutch Basketball League.
• Blom Reken: Pen name of Dutch author and illustrator Henk van der Reken who has authored eight books that center around the escapades of Hermelien Kruithof and her gang of friends.
• Mathias Reken: German painter currently living in Berlin who works between figuration and abstraction.
• Tjebbe Reken: Dutch cyclist who competed in the Men's team pursuit at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• Marius Reken: German athlete who specialises in the javelin throw and was the runner up at the Javelin Throw of the 2010 German youth championships.
• Paul Reken: Dutch professional water polo player currently playing for Utrecht in the Dutch national competition, the Best League.
• Julia Reken: German metal singer and guitarist, currently the lead vocalist of the German extreme metal band Red Idea.
• Harry Reken: Dutch politician from Staphorst, Overijssel, who served as a Member of the House of Representatives for the ChristianUnion from 2002 until 2010.

Other surnames

RekeRekemeierRekemeyerRekerRekersRekert