Resch
A German surname most likely from a nickname meaning “spry,” “lively,” or “quick.”
The #9,895 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 94,504 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Resch is generally linked to Middle High German rasch/resch/rosch, words meaning “quick,” “lively,” or “brisk.” As a surname, it would have begun as a nickname for someone seen as energetic or sharp in manner. Some older writers also tried to connect similar forms to other Germanic name elements, but the nickname explanation is the clearest and most widely accepted.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas, especially in southern Germany and Austria, and it appears in several variant spellings such as Rasch, Resch, Rosch, and Rösch. Historical surname scholars in the 19th century already treated Resch as part of this nickname group. In modern usage it remains a distinctly German-language surname, though bearers are now found in diaspora communities as well.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same old word that likely gave rise to Resch also lives on in modern German dialects with the sense of being brisk or spry.
From the historical record
“Rawlins, Raynard, Raynsford and Rainsford, Reemie, Reeve, Render, Renker, Rennals, Resca- resch, Rickey, Ricks, Riddan, Ridgdale, Riff (167y), RiGLEY, RiNDGE and Ringe, Ringot, Ris- BOROUGH, Robe, Roots, Rost, Router, Row son, Ruddock, Rundle, Rushton, Ryby. Sadey, Saffyn or Saffin, Sage (we have Sager),”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)