Surname Reinker - Meaning and Origin
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Reinker: What does the surname Reinker mean?
The surname Reinker is of German origin and comes from the word "Rincker," which means “rider.” This indicates the nobility of the family, as “rider” was a archaic title of the feudal class of knights. The Reinker family likely descended from one of these medieval knights, thus gaining the surname.
This is further supported by an old Germanic proverb: “He who follows his Father’s legacy may be called a Reinker." This proverb speaks to a life of integrity, hard work, and honor that must have been deeply valued by the family.
The surname may have also been used to distinguish the Reinkers from other families, as they likely held a certain reputation in their region. Considering the meaning of the surname, it is reasonable to believe that the Reinker family were proud of their heritage as knights, and that they upheld its values and were known for their nobility.
The name Reinker is primarily found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but its reach extends to the United States due to immigration. Nevertheless, the legacy of old world values such as loyalty, courage, and hard work that this surname carries is still honored by the Reinker families.
Order DNA origin analysisReinker: Where does the name Reinker come from?
The last name Reinker is a unique, uncommon name which is believed to originate from Germany. It can still be found in areas where German immigrants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, France and Switzerland.
In America, the highest concentrations of Reinkers can be found in Pennsylvania and Ohio. A number of Reinkers have also spread to other parts of the country like New York, California, Illinois, and even as far out as Hawaii.
The ancestors of Reinkers become increasingly harder to trace, as this name seems to have changed over the years with some of the spelling variants of Reinker being Rainer, Rainier, and Renker.
Reinkers are also found in Australia and Canada, where there are outposts of German immigrants who settled there over the years. It is believed that Canada might even be the first nation to adopt the spelling variant of Renker.
Reinkers are also believed to have ventured as far east to France – with some Reinkers having resided in and around the city of Strasbourg – and to Switzerland, where Reinkers are said to have lived in Zurich, Geneva, and Biel.
The Reinker name is not amongst the most common in today's society, but be sure to take a look around and you might find someone else out there with the same last name!
Variations of the surname Reinker
The surname Reinker is is categorized as an occupational name that may have been derived from the German term "Reinger" which means Rein- or clear-cutter. Many variant spellings and surnames exist for the surname Reinker, including Reinke, Reinken, Rynkert, Renken, Renke, Rincke, Rinke, Ringen, Runken, Reynkjær, Ryng, Ryneke, Rheingans, Reiniger, Reininger, Remenger, Reinkemeyer, Renkerod, Reinl, Renkel, Reynk, Reinkerd, Rienke, Renkert and Reinkaer.
Today, all of these variant spellings of the surname Reinker remain quite common in Germany, while some of the most popular variations can also be found in Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. Current estimates suggest that there are more than 350,000 citizens in German who carry the surname Reinker, and another 50,000 or so who are registered with one of the variant spellings.
In addition to the various ways the name Reinker can be spelled, there are multiple sub-branches and several surnames derived from the same name. For example, the name Reinken used to be associated with a branch of the Thuringian family and was first established by reception of an imperial fief in 1633. As well, some of the spellings such as the Danish variants Rynkert and Reynkjær were derived from the nickname Ryne, which is derived from the Old Germanic name Reinhard.
Ultimately, the surname Reinker is an extremely versatile and common name, with various spellings and related surnames that span centuries and countries. It's a type of surname that has been especially prevalent in Germany since at least the 11th century and its variants can be found in various regions around the world.
Famous people with the name Reinker
- Hans Reinker (1775: 1811), German-born violinist
- Johannes Reinker (1777: 1825), German-born renowned composer
- Nikolaus Reinker (1804: 1882), German music journalist
- Georg Reinker (1850: 1932), German violinist, conductor, and composer
- Fritz Reinker (1873: 1945), German-born conductor and composer
- Fritz Reinker, Jr. (1910: 1997), German-born composer and conductor
- Christa Reinker (1914: 1987), German composer
- Frank Reinker (1943: 2016), German painter and sculptor
- Libby Reinker (born 1964), German opera director
- Frederic Reinker (born 1967), German composer and music producer