Surname Ratjen - Meaning and Origin

Ratjen: What does the surname Ratjen mean?

The last name Ratjen is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle German word "radguen", which means a rat catcher. This suggests that the name bearers were employed to hunt and capture rats in order to protect the crops and food stores of the local population. The name likely began as a nickname for a person who was known for his rat catching skills and eventually became a hereditary surname.

The surname Ratjen can be found in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and other German-speaking regions of Europe. In the United States, it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio and other states that were originally populated by German immigrants.

Today, the name Ratjen is still associated with rat hunting in Germany. The spelling has evolved over the centuries, with some variants including Radgan, Ratgen and Rotjan. Ratjen families can be found in many regions of the country, but the greatest concentration is located in the southwestern part of Germany.

The Ratjen name is likely to have started out centuries ago as a name derived from the occupation of the person who first assumed it. Since then, it has been passed down through the generations and adapted to fit the local language and culture. It is a reminder of the hard work, resourcefulness and skills of ancestors past.

Ratjen: Where does the name Ratjen come from?

The last name Ratjen is most common in Germany today, particularly in northern Germany. In 2019, it was the 6,259th most common last name in Germany according to Forebears.io. It is part of the names of a few notable people in Germany, including historian Fritz Ratjen and former Olympic athlete Margarete Ratjen.

The last name Ratjen has Scottish roots and is found in other countries across Europe, including Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. There are also instances of the last name in the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, and India.

The origin of the last name Ratjen is difficult to determine, though it is thought to be derived from the rough Scottish meaning of a "little, trusted one." It could even stem from the German word "ratte," which means "rat" in some contexts.

The last name Ratjen was popularized by a former Olympic athlete, Margarete Ratjen, who was born in 1920. She was believed to be a man named Hermann Ratjen due to a mistake in her own birth records, and she competed as a woman in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Her story garnered a lot of attention during the Olympics and helped to spread the Ratjen name around the world.

Variations of the surname Ratjen

The surname Ratjen originated from Germany. Variants of the name Ratjen include Rechten, Rathemann, Rothen, Rothmann, Rathenmann, Ratthenmann, Retten, Reuthen, and Rotten.

In Germany, the Ratjen name is usually spelled Rathemann, which means ‘counselor’, while the spelling Rothen is mainly German as well. Rothmann is another variant mainly found in Germany while Rathenmann and Ratthenmann are also German and Dutch variations of the same name.

Rechten and Reuthen are Dutch spellings of Ratjen, and Retten is a common Swedish spelling of the same surname. In English-speaking countries, variations of Ratjen often take the form of Rotten or Rothen.

Though Ratjen is the most commonly used spelling, there are many variants of the same name due to cultural, linguistic, and geographical differences. Each spelling variant may refer to the same group of people, so Ratjen may be the same as any of the listed spellings.

Famous people with the name Ratjen

• Dora Ratjen: German athlete and spy for Nazi Germany. As a woman, Dora pretended to be a man while competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the women’s high-jump event, finishing fourth.
• Jan Ratjen: German rower who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne in the men’s eight where he won gold.
• Max Ratjen: German author most famous for his "Where Is Pengelly?" books. It was an adventure series for young adults in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Joachim Ratjen: German medal-winning Olympic hurdler who competed at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
• Gisela Ratjen: German gymnast who competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
• Alwin Ratjen: German rower who competed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.
• Friedrich Ratjen: German long-distance runner who competed at the 1908 Olympics in London.
• Wolfgang Ratjen: German sailor who competed at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the Dragon class.
• Christoph Ratjen: German archer who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the men’s individual event.
• Lea Ratjen: German Paralympic athlete and swimmer who has won numerous medals at various events.

Other surnames

RatjeRatjens