Rathjen is a German surname that is pronounced with the phonetic transcription /ˈraːtjən/. The first two letters, "Ra," represent a long "ah" sound. The "th" represents the German "t" sound, which is pronounced like a "t" with a slight "h" sound. The "j" sound is represented by the letter "j," which is pronounced like the English letter "y." Finally, the "en" represents a long "eh" sound. To sum it up, Rathjen is pronounced as "raht-YEN" in German.
The word "Rathjen" is a German surname, and the etymology can be traced back to Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word "rôt" or "rot", which means "red" or "red-haired". The suffix "jen" or "gen" in German surnames is a diminutive form, suggesting that "Rathjen" likely originated as a nickname for someone with red hair or a person with the given name "Roth". Over time, "Rathjen" became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.