Rockefeller

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surname of an American oil tycoon and philanthropist who founded Standard Oil, or of his wealthy descendants
2. The family name of a prominent American business dynasty, most famously the oil industrialist who founded Standard Oil
3. Denotes the wealthy American oil magnate John D. or one of the philanthropic relatives who carried on his family's fortune

Etymology: The name starts as a German place name, Rockenfeld. The surname of the Rockefeller family descends from it, so the family name carries a small piece of German geography. The word is most closely tied to John D. Rockefeller, the American industrialist who founded Standard Oil. His business success made the name famous, and in the 20th century he also became known for his philanthropy, which gave the name a second, very different public reputation.