Surname Reither - Meaning and Origin
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Reither: What does the surname Reither mean?
The last name Reither is an occupational German surname derived from the Old High German word “ritar”. In the Middle Ages, it meant a horseman or a knight. It is thought to have been first given to a cavalryman who served in the army of a relevant area or lord. Given its origin, the meaning of the surname Reither is literally "rider".
The popularity of the name increased in the early 1400s, with the rise of the Holy Roman Empire and the growth of German nationalism. At this time, the Reither surname became more widespread throughout German-speaking lands, and eventually spread to other parts of Europe.
The Reither surname can be found all over the world, with many different spellings, including Reiter, Rider, and Reith. It is commonly found in the United States, Canada, England, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries with a rich Germanic and/or European history.
Reither is usually taken to mean horseman or knight. It is a symbol of strength, loyalty, and aristocracy. In addition, Reither is the name of a historical district in Bavaria known for its beautiful natural scenery and lush alpine meadows. It has an idyllic charm that has been preserved over the centuries.
The legacy of the Reither surname lives on in many parts of the world, whether as a reminder of an ancestral background or simply as an interesting piece of family mythology. Indeed, it is a fascinating reminder of one family’s distant history and the amazing journey of their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisReither: Where does the name Reither come from?
The last name Reither is most common in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. According to the WorldNames PublicProfiler, it has most recently been found in regions of German-speaking Switzerland, in the northern part of Vorarlberg in Austria, and in areas of Bavaria and Baden Württemberg in Germany.
The WorldNames PublicProfiler also gathers its data from various sources and has provided some interesting insights about the last name Reither. It is most prevalent in Germany, and within that country, most commonly found in Baden Württemberg. In Switzerland, the name is found more in the German part of the country than the French part. In Austria, it is concentrated to the northern part of Vorarlberg.
The name Reither is known to come from the Germanic personal name Richter, and the meaning behind that is “judge” or “arbiter”. Although it is more common in Germany and the surrounding countries, the surname is also found in other parts of Europe, and even in North and South America.
The WorldNames PublicProfiler also provides an analysis of the number of geographical clusters where the last name is found in individual countries. In Germany, there are 30 geographical clusters, showing that the last name can be found in several distinct rural areas throughout the country. In Switzerland, there are 12 geographical clusters and in Austria there are 2 geographical clusters.
The last name Reither is quite common in German-speaking countries and has a long history in the region. It is traditionally associated with the meaning of “judge” or “arbiter”, and is generally found in both rural and urban parts of Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Variations of the surname Reither
Reither is a German surname which can also be spelled Reiter, Reyter, Reider, Reeder, Reither, Reder, Reyder, Reithers, Reidthuer and Reitmeier. The surname derived from the Middle High German term 'reiter', meaning 'rider', and symbolized someone who was employed as a messenger or courier.
Variants can be divided into two main categories, those stemming from the spelling of the name, and those stemming from regional variants which are slight adaptations of the surname for various places throughout Germany. Spelling variations include Reiter, Reyter, Reider, Reeder, Reither, Reder, Reyder, Reithers, Reidthuer, and Reitmeier. Regional variants include Reiter as Reitman, Reithmeier, Reitler, Reitmer, Reitter, Retter, Rettermann, Rettschlag, Ritter, Rittman, Rittmeier, Rayter, Reider, Reihder, and Reithers.
In some cases, the surname Reither has been Anglicized to Rider or Reeders. Within the United States, the spelling variations may have been altered slightly as the name was anglicized upon arrival to the country. Immigrants of this surname may have also changed their names completely due to prejudice or difficulty with pronunciation. Regardless of the variations, the origin of the surname remains the same and many Reither families may still exist with slightly altered names or spellings.
Famous people with the name Reither
- Lena Reither—professional dancer and international dance champion.
- Robert Reither—ordained minister and former president of the United Methodist Church in West Virginia.
- David Reither—professional ice hockey player who plays for the New York Islanders.
- Suzanne Reither—founder and executive director of the Wisconsin Early Autism Project.
- Lauren Reither—renowned American illustrator and fine artist.
- Chrystina Reither—accomplished Canadian-American poet and author.
- Joseph Reither—German experimental physicist, natural philosopher, and patristic theologian.
- Steve Reither—2006 National Hockey League All-Star forward.
- Scott Reither—award-winning television and film actor.
- Clay Reither—renowned automotive designer who is best known for the iconic Kia Soul.