Rodkey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Rodkey

What does the name Rodkey mean?

The surname Rodkey is a local surname; it is derived from the place name Radeck, a castle in Oppel, in Silesia. While it is generally regarded that the name was from this area, the first record of the name was in Switzerland. The derivation from the place name Radeck makes this a habitation surname.

Alternatively, the name could have derived from the Middle Ages, Germanic personal name Radolf (Radloff) which dates back to Romania (1250-1300) where variants like Radeke (Radolf) was found in Stralsund in 1290. 1

In Poland, the name was a habitational name for someone from Redecz (formerly Radecz) in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Radcze in Lublin Voivodeship, or Recz (formerly Radecz) in Kuyavian-Pomeranian.

Early Origins of the Rodkey family

The surname Rodkey was first found in Switzerland, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Chronicles first mention Heinrich von Radekke of Upper-Austria in 1256, and Hans Radecker of Eger in Bohemia around 1395.

Early History of the Rodkey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodkey research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1233, 1733, 1776, 1791, 1814 and 1903 are included under the topic Early Rodkey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodkey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Radecke, Radek, Radeke, Radeck, Radecki, Radacke, Radake, Radacker, Radecker and many more.

Early Notables of the Rodkey family

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rodkey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rodkey family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Friedricka Radeke, who immigrated to Texas in 1847. J. Radke settled in Texas in 1853 while Gottlieb Radke sailed to Boston with his family in 1898.

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodkey (post 1700) +

Geoff Rodkey (b. 1970), American Emmy Award nominated screenwriter and children's book writer

Sources +

Bahlow, Hans, Dictionary of German Names. translated by Edda Gentry, Wisconsin: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-924119-35-7)