Surname Riekens - Meaning and Origin
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Riekens: What does the surname Riekens mean?
The last name Riekens is derived from the Dutch word 'rieken,' meaning 'aromatic.' As a surname, it is thought to have first appeared in North Holland during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originally been a toponymic name, referring to someone who lived in a location noted for strong smells, such as a tannery. This may have been because of a nearby river or marsh, or because tanning was a main industry in the area.
The presence of the surname in the area today reflects the settlement of Dutch immigrants in the 16th and 17th centuries, when large groups of immigrants from the region first arrived in the United States. These immigrants came mainly from the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and North Holland, where the name Rieken was found.
Other variations on the surname are Reagons, Rhekens, Reikens, Reekens, Riekens, and Reekins. These variations may have come about when the name was loaned to other languages or the spelling was modified when immigration records were made. Families with the Riekens surname may have descended from a noble family in the Netherlands.
The name Riekens is still found today in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. It is a testament to the adventuring spirit of the Dutch settlers and a reminder of their important role in early American history.
Order DNA origin analysisRiekens: Where does the name Riekens come from?
The last name Riekens is most commonly found in Germany, specifically the northern regions such as Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Bremen. It is a relatively uncommon last name elsewhere in Europe, though it can be found in other countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
As of January 2021, the German telephone directory lists around 800 individuals with the last name Riekens. It is also found in the United States, with around 200 persons listed with the name. The majority of these are concentrated in the states of California, Texas, and New York.
Riekens can also be found in countries like Canada, Australia, and Brazil. While it is not as widespread as in Germany, U.S., and more recently, Canada, the number of individuals with the name Riekens is steadily increasing.
In conclusion, Riekens is a relatively uncommon last name all over the world. Its greatest concentration by far is in Germany, with the United States in a distant second. With the growing presence of Riekens in many other countries, the global popularity of this name is steadily increasing.
Variations of the surname Riekens
The Riekens surname is derived from a Germanic origin meaning powerful ruler, and it is also similar to the Dutch word ‘reken’ meaning to reckon or to calculate. It is a common surname found in Europe and the United States.
The variants and spellings of the Riekens surname include Reeken, Reekens, Reichens, Reichen, Ryken, Riecken, Ryuks, and Rykman. Surnames that share a similar origin or are derived from the Riekens surname include Reikman, Reiken, Reichman, Reichmann, Reiko, Reichel, Rehm, Richman, Reich, Ryke, and Rychman.
It is also quite common for surnames to alter from generation to generation or to be adapted to fit in a specific region or country. Riekens could have been anglicized in the United States to warn Rye or Ryecken, and in Germany it could have become Ryckes or Reikens.
In the Netherlands, the Riekens surname could have evolved to become Rikken, Ryken, Rykers, Rykenaar, or Rykenbroek. In Belgium it could be Riekenaars, Riekenbaert, Rieks, Rycken, Rikkenhaeghe, Ryuksens, or Reykens.
Altogether, there are a number of variations of the Riekens surname across Europe and the United States but with the same origin, as it continues to evolve with time.
Famous people with the name Riekens
- Laura Riekens: an American actress who has appeared in a variety of television shows and feature films.
- Scott Riekens: a German soccer player who currently plays for FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
- Robert Riekens: a Dutch former footballer who played for Dutch top clubs Ajax, Vitesse, and FC Utrecht.
- Jelle Riekens: a Dutch cyclist who currently rides for UCI Professional Continental Team Giant-Shimano.
- Joseph Riekens: a German professional football player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Eintracht Frankfurt.
- Bart Riekens: a Dutch former professional football player who played for Dutch top clubs PSV and Feyenoord.
- Joop Riekens: a Dutch former professional football player who played for Dutch top clubs FC Utrecht and Ajax Amsterdam.
- Paul Riekens: a Dutch former professional football player who played for Dutch and German clubs.
- Ramon Riekens: a retired Dutch professional football player who played for various Dutch clubs in the Eredivisie.
- Mariette Riekens: a Dutch actress whose best-known roles include Tara in the Dutch version of Big Brother.