Falkenrath is a German surname composed of the elements falke (falcon) and rat (counsel, advice), derived from Middle High German. The name likely originated as an occupational name for someone who kept or trained falcons, or as a nickname denoting a keen or sharp advisor.
Notable Bearers
One prominent bearer is Richard A. Falkenrath (born 1969), an American counterterrorism official who served as Deputy Commissioner of Counter-Terrorism for the New York City Police Department from 2006 to 2010. A summa cum laude graduate of Occidental College, Falkenrath earned a Ph.D. in war studies from King's College London as a Marshall Scholar. He previously worked at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was involved in founding the Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness (1996).
Etymology
The first element, Falk-, comes from the falcon, a bird often associated with nobility and hunting in medieval Europe. The second element, -rath, is related to the German word Rat meaning counsel or advice, also seen in other German surnames like Eckrath or Gebrath. Taken together, the name may have originally been a byname for a falconer or someone known for their sharp judgment.
Distribution
As a German surname, Falkenrath is most frequently found in Germany, though it has spread to other countries through emigration.
- Meaning: falcon counsel
- Origin: Middle High German
- Type: surname (occupational/nickname)
- Usage regions: Germany
Sources: Wikipedia — Richard A. Falkenrath