Rademaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Rademaker

What does the name Rademaker mean?

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Rademaker family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Rademaker is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wheelmaker or wheelwright. The name stems from the German noun rat, meaning wheel. The origin is more clear in the variant "Rademacher."

Early Origins of the Rademaker family

The surname Rademaker was first found in Bavaria, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. Chronicles first mention Cuncz Redler in 1259 in Iglau, Hans Redel and A. Radel of Bohemia in 1407, Johann Radler of Znaim in 1420, and the knight Goslaus von Redern in 1292 near Neisse. Often the name was associated with work involving mills, but might also stemm from wheel makers (thus the old variation "Rademacher"). From the earliest times, though, it was widespread and not restricted to a profession. The name branched into many houses whose contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Rademaker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rademaker research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1278, 1549, 1716 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Rademaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rademaker Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Rademaker include Rad, Raed, Raeder, Rehder, Redder, Rader, Raders, Rade, Radder, Redler, Redl, Raedler, Redler, Radl, Rademacher, Radenmacher and many more.

Early Notables of the Rademaker family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rademaker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rademaker Ranking

Netherlands, the name Rademaker is the 533^rd most popular surname with an estimated 3,292 people with that name. 1

Rademaker migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Rademaker surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Rademaker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ann Rademaker, aged 40, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
Johannes Rademaker, aged 41, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Rademaker (post 1700) +

Sperry Jones Rademaker (1939-2005), American sprint canoer
Stephen Geoffrey Rademaker, American attorney, lobbyist and former Bush Administration government official
Fons Rademaker (1920-2007), Dutch filmmaker and actor
Gruenewald Rademaker (b. 1905), Brazilian naval officer and politician who became Minister for the Navy and then Vice-President of Brazil (1969-1974)

Sources +

"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)