Show ContentsRathman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Rathman

What does the name Rathman mean?

The surname Rathman is what is known as a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. This particular surname comes from the German word 'rot,' which means red. Therefore, someone who had red hair would have adopted this name. Since the number of Jewish families who adopted the surname Rathman far exceeds the actual number of Jewish people likely to have had red hair during the period of surname adoption, this name appears to be a Jewish Ashkenazic ornamental name. Ornamental surnames are names that are not necessarily related to the localities, occupations, nicknames or given names of the first people who used the name.

Rathman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rothman, Rothmann, Rudman, Rudmann, Roodman, Rottman, Rottmann, Rotterman, Reitman, Reitmann and many more.


USS Indianapolis
  • Frank Junior Rathman, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 1


  1. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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