Surname Rodacker - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Rodacker: What does the surname Rodacker mean?
The last name Rodacker is of German origin, derived from the professional name of “rodacker” or “rodackerin” ordinarily given to a person who produced roof tiles in one of the Free Imperial Cities of the Holy Roman Empire in modern day Germany. The name likely descends from the Middle High German words for “roof” and “worker”, suggesting that the surname is fairly old.
In the former Habsburg states, the surname is particularly popular in the cities of Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. It is also found in southern Germany, the Bavarian town of Schwandorf, and in South Tyrol. The frequency of the name Rodacker lessens in other countries throughout Europe.
In the 20th century the Rodacker family name can be traced to emigrants who traveled to numerous countries all over the world, particularly in the United States and Canada. Upon arriving in these countries, the family name often underwent various variations such as Rodekker, Rodaker, Radaker, Rataker, and other such spellings.
Today, the surname Rodacker is shared by numerous individuals and families throughout the world, each of whom share a common ancestor. Despite its changing spelling over time, the Rodacker family still carries a strong sense of shared identity and heritage, and is proudly upheld in countries and regions located all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisRodacker: Where does the name Rodacker come from?
The last name Rodacker is most commonly found in Germany. The name is derived from the Middle High German words 'rod' for 'red' and 'ackar' for 'field' or 'acre', and was likely originally a locational surname given to people who lived or held land in an area with red soil. Today, the name is still quite common in German-speaking countries, particularly in the south. As an example, in the town of Oftersheim in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 10% of the population shares the Rodacker surname.
In recent centuries, people with the Rodacker name have migrated to various countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. For example, the US Census Bureau shows that in 2017 there were around 550 people with the Rodacker name living in the United States. It is likely that today there are significant Rodacker populations in these countries, although exact figures are unavailable.
Variations of the surname Rodacker
The surname Rodacker is an Americanized spelling for the German surname Rohdacker. Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include Rodacker, Rödacker, Röhdacker, Rohtacker, Rohtakker, Rothacker, and Rothdacker. All of these spellings have the same etymological origin, derived from the German word rod, which translates to “wheel,” and acker, which means “field.” This reflects the fact that the family was once probably associated with the cartwright trade.
In addition, historically, many German-Americans changed the spelling of their surname, in what was termed “Americanization.” Such Americanized variants of the surname Rodacker include Redaker, Rudacker, Radaker, Rediker, Ritiker, Rehkopf, Retiker, Retikker, Radicher, Ridecker, and Reidl.
Another closely related surname is Rothacker, which is also derived from the German word rod. The spelling and usage of Rothacker as a surname can be attributed to the southern Germanic dialect known as Swabian German, where the prefix rot (meaning “red”) is common usage. This name is also Anglicized to Rediker, Rediker, Rediker, and Redikker.
The Rodacker surname has also been used to form other variants of the name. One example is Rodackerbach, which is derived from the Middle High German word bach, meaning "stream" or "brook."
Overall, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Rodacker, and it is important to research the family history to discover the full array of names used by one's ancestors.
Famous people with the name Rodacker
- John Rodacker: American football coach
- Jacob Rodacker: Football player
- Allen Rodacker: Singer/songwriter
- Nicholas Rodacker: World War II Veteran
- James Rodacker: Pioneer of Washington State
- Robert Rodacker: Former Austrian national footballer
- Romina Rodacker: Figure Skater
- Lee Rodacker: Nascar racer
- Matthew Rodacker: Baseball player
- Allen Stout Rodacker: American Author