Raecke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The origins of the Welsh name Raecke go back to the ancient Celtic culture that existed in the hills and Moors of Wales. The forbears that initially held the name Raecke once lived near a pass or narrow valley. The surname Raecke is derived from the Old English word hraca, which means throat. The surname Raecke belongs to the class of topographic surnames, which were given to people who resided near physical features such as hills, streams, churches, or types of trees. However, the surname Raecke may be derived from residence at The Rake in Sussex, at Raikes Farm in Surrey, or at Raikes in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In this case, the surname Raecke belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Raecke family

The surname Raecke was first found in Lincolnshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Raecke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raecke research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1690 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Raecke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raecke Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society in the 15th century. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Raecke has seen various spelling variations: Raikes, Raike, Raik, Rakes, Rake and others.

Early Notables of the Raecke family

More information is included under the topic Early Raecke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Raecke family

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Raecke: Andrew Rakes, who came to Barbados in 1654; Phyllis Rakes and her husband settled in Antigua in 1684; Weston Rakes settled in Virginia in 1752.

The Raecke Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Honestum praeferre utili
Motto Translation: To prefer the honest to the profitable.