Surname Rickenbacker - Meaning and Origin

Rickenbacker: What does the surname Rickenbacker mean?

The surname Rickenbacker is of Swiss-German origin. The name indicates a person who comes from a place called Rickenbach. In German, "bach" means stream and "Ricken" is derived from "rick" meaning ridge, so essentially the name translates to a stream by the ridge. There are several towns called Rickenbach in Switzerland and Germany, so its bearers could be from any of these places. The name Rickenbacker became well-known in the United States due to Eddie Rickenbacker, an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient, as well as the founder of the Rickenbacker car company and Eastern Air Lines. The Rickenbacker name is also prominent in the music world due to Rickenbacker International Corporation, an electric guitar manufacturer.

Rickenbacker: Where does the name Rickenbacker come from?

The last name Rickenbacker is most commonly found today in the United States, primarily in the midwest region. This is likely due to the influence of John D. "Jack" Rickenbacker, a well-known carmaker in the early 20th century. After his death, his sons Edward and Fred moved the company headquarters from Indiana to California, directing the majority of the manufacturing from there.

From this source, the last name has spread across America - with the highest concentration of those with the name calling Michigan their home state. However, this name can be found in many other states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and Texas. The surname has also spread across genres, with family members representing sports, theatre, and even politics.

In more recent years, it has been seen as a fairly uncommon name. In the 2000 U.S. census, only 14,000 people in the states reported the name, which was a small percentage of the total population. That said, the name continues to be passed down, making it possible to find branches of families with the same name throughout the country.

Overall, the last name Rickenbacker is most commonly found today in the United States, though it may be a relatively rare name compared to others.

Variations of the surname Rickenbacker

The surname Rickenbacker originates from Germany and has several spellings and variants. These primarily include Rickenbaker, Rickenbaugh, Rickenbacher, and Rickenbacher. Derived from the Germanic words 'Riche' (meaning power) and 'Bacher' (meaning baker), the surname literally means 'Powerful Baker.'

Rickenbacker is commonly spelled as Rikkenbacker, Rickenbeker, Rickenbaker, Rickenbacker, Rickenback, Rickenbach, Rickanbacker, Rickenbacker, Rickenbacher, Rickenbaker, Rickenbach, Ricenbacker, Rikennisbacker, and Rikkensbacker.

The variants of Rickenbacker include Richenbacher, Richenbacker, Rickenbach, Richenbach, Rickenbuch, Rickenbaugh, Rikenbacker, Rickenbouk, and Richiebacker.

Given its German origin, Rickenbacker also has variations in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. In these languages, the surname may appear as Rikkenbeker, Rickenpaker, Rickenbakker, and Rikkenbacker.

Outside of Europe, the surname has a variety of spellings and variants in countries where immigration from Germany occurred, such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. In these countries, Rickenbacker might be spelled as Rickenbeker, Rickenbakker, Rickenbacka, Rickenbacher, Rickenbaugh, Rickenbario, and Rickenbaner.

Famous people with the name Rickenbacker

• Eddie Rickenbacker: World War I flying ace and race car driver.
• Jack Rickenbacker: Actor and singer.
• Gregg Rickenbacker: Guitarist from the band Rickenbacker Band.
• Gregg Rickenbacker Jr: Musician, songwriter, and producer.
• Josh Rickenbacker: All-star baseball player from Wisconsin.
• Cindy Rickenbacker: Professional figure skater.
• Billy Rickenbacker: Pro baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Carl Rickenbacker: High school football coach.
• Bernd Rickenbacker: Writer and editor for The New Yorker.
• Ian Rickenbacker: Professional downhill mountain biker.
• Jennifer Rickenbacker: American sprint athlete.
• Peter Rickenbacker: Photographer and visual artist.
• Tony Rickenbacker: Musician, composer, and producer.
• Mark Rickenbacker: Bassist with the band Grave New World.
• Scott Rickenbacker: Hollywood film producer and director.
• Harold Rickenbacker: Retired Major League Baseball player.
• Steve Rickenbacker: Professional martial artist and fitness trainer.
• Annette Rickenbacker: Swimming coach and trainer.
• Jim Rickenbacker: Professional surf lifesaver and coach.
• Denise Rickenbacker: Inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Other surnames

RickenbachRickenbacher