Surname Rixkes - Meaning and Origin

Rixkes: What does the surname Rixkes mean?

The last name Rixkes is of Dutch origin and is thought to originate from the Dutch expression "ricksen," which means to move. It likely refers to someone who moved through the water or navigated by boat. This could refer to fishermen, or to Dutch settlers who were among the first European explorers to colonize the Americas.

Rixkes can also be related to the Dutch verb "rixken" which means to cut off wood. This could refer to someone who worked in the forestry, such as a lumberjack. It could also refer to someone who was a carpenter or a master craftsman.

In some cases, the name can refer to someone who was a shield bearer or a shield maker. The Dutch word for shield is rick, so this could refer to someone who was a professional warrior or a skilled maker of shields.

The name Rixkes is also commonly found among Jewish or Ashkenazi populations. In this context, the name could refer to someone who was a butcher, or someone skilled in the craft of butchery, such as in the production of salted meats or sausages.

No matter how it is interpreted, the name Rixkes is a colorful and interesting way to trace someone's ancestry and possible family occupations.

Rixkes: Where does the name Rixkes come from?

The surname Rixkes is most commonly found today in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United States. This surname was originally derived from Germanic language sources such as the prefix "Rik-" or "Rig" which means "powerful" and "-kes" or "-ke" which indicates a diminutive form of the prefix.

In the Netherlands, the name Rixkes is most commonly found in the province of Gelderland, with the province registering a number of people with the Rixkes surname to the population registry in 2017. In Belgium, the surname is found in the provinces of Namur, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, and Liège.

The United States is home to many immigrants who arrived bearing the Rixkes surname. Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan are the states with the largest population of Rixkes descendants; these states have seen growth in recent years, with immigration from Europe continuing to this day.

In Germany, the Rixkes surname can be found scattered throughout the country, especially in the western federal states like North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, where the settlement of immigrants with Germanic roots is common.

For those interested in tracing their Rixkes surname, the best place to begin your search is with the local library and/or genealogical societies of your respective country. Both the Netherlands and Germany are home to various genealogical societies, and websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org have online databases full of records pertaining to surnames, including Rixkes.

Variations of the surname Rixkes

The surname Rixkes is likely an Anglicized version of the German surname Rixke, and possibly of Dutch and Jewish origin. The spelling of Rixkes is found primarily in the United States, while the spelling Rixke is used more heavily in German-speaking countries.

Variants of the surname Rixkes include Rixckes, Rixckses, Rixckkses, Rixckskses, Rixcks, Rixk, Rixxkes, Rixkses, Riches, Ryckes, Rickses, and Ryxkes.

The surname Rickses could also be of the same origin as Rixkes, possibly derived from Riches, an English surname of Germanic origin.

The surname Ryckes could be a variant of Rixkes, either derived from the German surname Rycke or the Dutch surname Rycken; both names are of Germanic origin.

The surname Riches could come from the French surname Richesse, which also has German and Dutch variants.

The surname Rixxkes could have originated from several surnames of Germanic origin, such as Rickse, Rixse, Rixke, or Ricke.

Finally, the surname Ryxkes could be a derivation of the German surname Ryeckse, which has the same Germanic origin as Rixkes.

Famous people with the name Rixkes

• Beau Rixkes: Beau is an Australian-born actor, known for his work in movies and television, such as playing a lead role in the 2014 movie Hacksaw Ridge and guest starring in a popular TV comedy show.
• Tom Rixkes: Tom is a professional cyclist and triathlete, who won the 2013 European Junior Triathlon Championships and competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. He is currently competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
• Henk Rixkes: Henk is a Dutch politician and lawyer, who served as a Member of Parliament and the mayor of the Netherlands city Haarlem. He has also been appointed to a number of government offices and committees.
• John Rixkes: John is a German-born American entrepreneur and inventor, best known for founding the tech company Myco, whose products revolutionised the world of healthcare.
• Irina Rixkes: Irina is an award-winning Russian-born film director, cinematographer and actress, whose films focus on social and political issues, notably including the documentary Making Peace: Children of War.
• Matthew Rixkes: Matthew is a Canadian musician and songwriter, well known for his indie-rock hits ‘Youth of Today’ and ‘Dream Again’. His music has reached international acclaim and has appeared in a number of TV shows and advertisements.
• Lisa Rixkes: Lisa is a Swiss-born scientist and researcher, who is known for her pioneering work on artificial intelligence and robotics. Her research has earned her a number of international awards and recognition.

Other surnames

Rixkens