Surname Rather - Meaning and Origin

Rather: What does the surname Rather mean?

The last name Rather is of German or Scandinavian origin. Records show the name dates back to at least the 13th century, when it was first found in Germany. The name is derived from the Old Germanic first name "Rathar," which means "Polite Counselor."

The origination of the name is further evidenced by multiple records of individuals surnamed 'Rathar' from the 13th century onwards throughout Germany and Scandinavia. Spelling variations of the name often occur and include Rath, Ratha, Rathe, Theatre, Thater and Rathardt.

The name Rather was also common in England and Scotland from the time of the Norman Conquest. The name's spread appears to have been facilitated by the fact that Norman was the official language of England and Scotland for a period of time during the Middle Ages.

Today, the name Rather is common throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. It can also be found in parts of Eastern Europe.

Overall, the name Rather has a long and storied history that reflects its roots in Germanic culture. This signifies a commitment to honor, duty, and virtue that has been maintained for centuries and is still important today.

Rather: Where does the name Rather come from?

The surname Rather is primarily a German surname, meaning "red haired". It is still found in Germany, Germany's neighbouring countries, and other countries where German migrants moved, such as the United States.

Today, Rather remains a common middle to upper-class German surname. In particular, it is prevalent in southern Germany, such as in Bavaria. It is also especially popular in western and southern parts of Austria, where it has been in use for hundreds of years.

Rather is also found throughout the United States, where descendants of German-speaking immigrants who came in the late 18th and 19th centuries have kept the surname. Although the surname was found in other places like England and Canada, there are much fewer descendants of German migrants in these countries, making it less common.

Rather is also a surname in other countries, including the Netherlands, Poland, Palestine, and Iraq. It has often been adapted by other cultures, such as in Iraq where it is spelled “Rifier.”

To this day, Rather remains a common surname, especially throughout Germany and other European countries. It is also often seen throughout the United States, where descendants of German settlers in the late 18th and 19th centuries have kept the surname as part of their heritage.

Variations of the surname Rather

The surname Rather has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the name include Raether, Ratheir, Rieder, Reuther, Radder, Redder, Reder and Rederer. The spelling of the surname Rather may also vary depending on the region, with some spellings including Ratehr, Rathir, Rathear, Radhar, Rathere, Ratheur, and Raedere.

The surnames Rath, Raa, Rade, Rede, Redel, Redem, Redemann, Reudel, Reuden, Reun, Rien, Rider, Riederlein, Rieman, Ring, Rödder, Rohder and Rudel also have the same origin as Rather. In some areas, the spelling of the surname may have been changed to Raucher, Riecher or Roucher due to dialect influences.

Quite a few variations of the surname Rather exist, but many of the variations can be traced back to the Germanic language. This is due to the fact that the name originated from a Middle High German word “raeth” which meant “counsel, advice”. It was used as a nickname to describe somebody who was known for giving good advice.

The Rather surname is also found in countries as far away as the United Kingdom and the United States. Some of the most common spellings of the surname in American records include Raether, Rathee, Rathers, Reither and Rieder.

To summarize, the surname Rather has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Raether, Ratheir, Rieder, Reuther, Redder, Reder, Rathere, Ratheur, Rath, Raa, Rade, Rede, Redel, Redem, Redemann, Reudel, Reuden, Reun, Rien, Rider, Riederlein, Rieman, Ring, Rödder, Rohder and Rudel, as well as Raucher, Riecher and Roucher. These variations of the surname can be traced back to Middle High German and are very common in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Famous people with the name Rather

• Dan Rather: American journalist, news anchor, and the managing editor and anchor of CBS's newsmagazine 60 Minutes.
• Bill Rather: American news anchor and cousin of Dan Rather.
• Donna Rather: Former news anchor for IMF Radio in Washington, DC and first cousin of Dan Rather.
• Joanna Rather: Actor and Dan Rather’s daughter.
• Bebe Rather: Actor and Dan Rather’s daughter.
• Ray Rather: Judge in the Texas Court of Appeals and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Susan Rather: Journalist and anchor in Houston, and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Stanley Rather: US Congressman and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Judy Rather: Co-host of Houston’s KPRC TV show Morning Dose and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Lillie Rather: Former CBS News correspondent and wife of Stanley Rather.
• Maury Rather: US Air Force major and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Juline Rather: Host of the political show Connecting Point and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Josh Rather: Actor and Dan Rather’s son.
• Skip Rather: Political analyst and first cousin to Dan Rather.
• Phil & Joe Rather: Musicians and first cousins to Dan Rather.

Other surnames

RathenowRathersRathert