Surname Rixgens - Meaning and Origin
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Rixgens: What does the surname Rixgens mean?
The surname Rixgens is of German origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old Germanic surname ‘Rikinzo’ and is most commonly found in the western parts of Germany. The exact meaning behind the name is uncertain but it could be derived from the words ‘rix’ meaning ‘ruler’ and ‘gens’ meaning ‘people’, suggesting that the original bearer of the name belonged to a prominent family.
The Rixgens family has a long and illustrious history in Germany. They were an influential noble family during the Middle Ages, and many members held positions of power and status in the royal courts. Probably their most famous ancestor is John Henry Rixgens IV, who was the Grand-Chancellor of the court of the Elector of Brandenburg in the 16th century.
Though not as prominent today, the Rixgens family have produced respected lawyers, authors, scientists, and historians in the 19th and 20th centuries. The modern-day Rixgens still honor their family’s long and proud history, and many members wear the family crest proudly on their clothing.
Though the exact meaning of the name Rixgens is unknown, it’s clear that the family have had a long and influential history in Germany. They have produced respected and noteworthy people over the centuries and continue to do so today.
Order DNA origin analysisRixgens: Where does the name Rixgens come from?
The last name Rixgens is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands today. The last name is predominantly a German surname, but may also be found in Dutch and Scandinavian regions. It is most commonly found in the former duchy of Westphalia in Northwest Germany.
In Germany, the Rixgens surname primarily originates from the old German name "Rike", which means "ruler" or "powerful one". The origin of the name can also often be attributed to the Latin word "rex" meaning "king". The suffix "-gens" is a common German ending for patronymics that refers to a family or heritage.
Due to the Low Germanic origin of the name, it is found mainly in the north-central region of Germany and in the Netherlands. Records of the name date back to the 1500s, when detailed records of surnames began to be kept in the territories of Flanders, Holstein and Holstein-Gottorp.
Today, the name Rixgens can also be found in the United States, particularly in Wisconsin where many Dutch-German and Swedish-German immigrants settled in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Rixgens
The surname Rixgens has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Ricksen, Rixen, and Rexen. The spelling Ricxen can be found in the Netherlands, originating from Scandinavia, and is possibly the oldest spelling variant of the name. The Dutch spelling Rijksen or Rikxen is derived from the German Rixgens and other spellings include Rixgen, Rixgens, Ricgens, Ricgen, and Rikgen.
In Germany, Rixgens is also spelled Riexen or Reixen and variants include Reigens, Reexen, Reixgen, Reicken, and Reijsgen. Other variations include Rieken, Riekens, Riksen, Ryksen, Reksen, Rexen, Rexens, Rexgen, Rexgens, Reicgen, and Riecgen.
In the Netherlands, Rixgens is often spelled Rikxen or Rixsens, with variants Rikxsen, Rixxen, Rixsgen, Ricksen, Ricksens, Rikgen, and Rikgens. In the Dutch spelling, suffixes such as -man, -ing, -ink, or -se can sometimes be added.
In the United States, the surname is sometimes spelled Reckson, Rickson, Ricks, or even Rickerson or Richards. In South Africa, the surname Ryksen is an adaptation of the Dutch Rikxen.
In Scotland, Ricken is found, most likely from Scandinavian settlers. Other Scottish variants of Rixgens include Rickens, Rexen, Rexens, and Rickie.
Rixgens is also found as a patronymic name in England, such as Richardson and Rixson.
Famous people with the name Rixgens
- Salvador Rixgens, Argentine film actor and director.
- Nathalie Rixgens, Belgian theatre actress.
- Auguste Simon Rixgens, Dutch painter of the nineteenth century.
- Luc Rixgens, Belgian composer.
- Friedrich Adolf Rixgens, German classical archaeologist who specialized in ancient Greek and Roman art and archaeology.
- Madi Rixgens, Swiss-German actress.
- Léon Rixgens, Belgian painter known for his scenes of everyday life in the Flemish town of Antwerp.
- Albert Rixgens, German businessman and major shareholder in several companies.
- Bruno Rixgens, British equestrian who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Robbie Rixgens, Danish Olympic bobsledder.
- Alfred Rixgens, Belgian racing cyclist who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
- Charles Rixgens, Belgian sprint canoer who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Justus Rixgens, Dutch composer, organist, theorist and author.
- Karl Georg Rixgens, German lawyer and politician who served in the chamber of the Reichstag from 1884 to 1893.
- Johann Rixgens, German poet and theologian.
- Jean Louis van Rixgens, Dutch forestry engineer and ornithologist.
- Gerard Rixgens, Dutch chess master, author, and editor.
- Jan Rixgens, Dutch general in the army of the Dutch East India Company.
- Rixgens Heinrich, German entomologist who specialised in Hymenoptera.