This Old German surname is a developed form of the Saxon pre 8th Century "Hrodgeirr", more popularly found as the personal name "Roger". The name comprises the elements "hrod" translating as honour, plus "geirr", a spear. It is not known how many surnames derive from this original source but it certainly runs into hundreds, every country in Europe adding its quota. The German forms include Rudiger, Rudigner, Ruger, Riediger, Ruchhard, and Rieger. A Coat of Arms was granted circa 1800 to the Ruckert's of Nuremburg; this is a gold shield charged with a black eagle displayed over a white cloud. The name recordings include the following examples: Tobias Rueckert, who married Maria Hiller at Oberseifersdorf, Sachsen, on February 6th 1691, whilst on February 27th 1775, Weyant Ruckert married Johanna Helena Hielmann at Frankenthal Evangelist Church, Pfalz, Bayern; this is perhaps the earliest recording in the modern spelling form. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hans Rueckert, which was dated September 28th 1584, a witness at Windsheim, Bayern, Germany, during the reign of Rudolf 11, Holy Roman Emperor, 1576 - 1612. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.