Surname Reekers - Meaning and Origin

Reekers: What does the surname Reekers mean?

The last name Reekers is of Dutch origin and likely derived from the Old Dutch "rekker," meaning "driver" or "cattle driver." This was a common occupational name for someone who drove horses or oxen, usually for hauling or ploughing purposes.

The Reeker surname could also have been derived from a place name. In Dutch, "reek" refers to "smoke," and a place name containing "reek" could mean a settlement situated near a sources of smoke, such as an active volcano.

In the Dutch language, the surname Reeker also has a more figurative meaning related to its original business-related connotation. For instance, in English, it is similar to the phrase "rounding up the troops" or "wrangling them up" to describe someone who efficiently gathers people or elements together in order to get a task done.

The Reeker surname has been found in various regions throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, where the family has been tracked since the 1400s. To this day, the surname remains common in Dutch-speaking countries. In the United States, Reekers is primarily located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California.

Reekers: Where does the name Reekers come from?

The last name Reekers is most commonly found today in both the United States and the Netherlands. According to the report of the United States Census Bureau conducted in 2016, the Reekers surname is one of the most highly concentrated in the American states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Within these four states, over 4,400 people with the Reekers last name were counted collectively. Records detailed on the USGenWeb also indicate that Reekers can be found in California, New York, and Wisconsin, among other states.

In the Netherlands, the last name Reekers is less widespread but still recognized in many areas. Namesake listings within Netherlands’ former provinces of North Holland, Utrecht, and South Holland volunteered the most Reekers dwellers. Approximately 2,000 individuals in the Netherlands with the Reekers last name made the most recent census reports, indicating the surname is well-established in the country.

In conclusion, the last name Reekers can be found today around the world, primarily in the United States and Netherlands. This is attributed to the namesakes’ Dutch origins and suggests the last name has spread around the world by those migrating for various reasons over the years.

Variations of the surname Reekers

The surname Reekers is a Germanic given name, derived from the Old High German word ‘Reicker’, meaning ‘one who rules’. It is also known as Reiker, Ryker, and Rykker, with all spellings being interchangeable. It is typically of Dutch origin and has variants such as Rieker, Reichert, Reiker, Reeger, and Reicker. It is sometimes seen in English as Reeker, Riecker, Reekers, Reaches, Reacher, and Reeches.

In countries of Germanic origin, such as Germany and the Netherlands, the name is known as Reicker. Some other spellings include Reigher and Reiker. The name is sometimes seen in English as Reeker, Ryker, Reeches,etc.

There are also a few surnames derived from the Reekers name, most of which are found in other countries, such as France, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. These include Ryckerts, Riekerk, Riekerks, Riekens, Ryckmann, Riekenboom, Reichetz, and Reickerz.

The Reeki family surname is found in Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries. It is derived from the middle-high German “Reik”, meaning "to reach" or "power". This surname variant is also known as Reike, Reikend, and Reikel.

The surname Reekers is also found in Scandinavia. It is derived from the Swedish and Danish words, ‘Riuger’ and ‘Raecker’. This implies ‘a powerful man’. The variants of this name include Riugers, Raeckers, Reegers, Reegersson, Raeckerson, and Raecksen.

In Poland, the surname is known as Recker, and some of its derivatives include the Rechinski, the Rechkow, and the Rechak. Records have also been found in some regions of Austria, where the name is spelled as Recker, Reeken, Recht, and Rekh.

Finally, some unusual variants of the surname Reekers can be found in the United Kingdom, especially among Scottish and Irish emigrants to England. In Scotland, the variants are Reekie, Reekin, Reeky, Reece, and Rees. While the Irish variants of the name are Reaky, Reacle, and Reakle.

Famous people with the name Reekers

• Lisa Reekers: Dutch journalist
• Eric Reekers: Dutch Salvation Army Officer
• Florus Reekers: Dutch Biology Professor
• Marie-Louise Reekers: Former Member of the Dutch Senate
• Adriaan Reekers: Dutch Tennis Player
• Herbert Reekers: Dutch Violinist
• Reinhard Reekers: Former Dutch Footballer
• Frans Reekers: Dutch Painter
• Gitta Reekers: Dutch Television Actress
• Ruud Reekers: Dutch Financial expert and Businessman

Other surnames

ReekeReekenReeker