Surname Reifer - Meaning and Origin
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Reifer: What does the surname Reifer mean?
The last name Reifer is a German and Jewish surname with an unclear meaning. It is thought to be derived from a word referring to someone who rejoices or, perhaps, one who is swift. It has also been suggested that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a hedgerow, recalling the German words “raufer” or “raifer”.
The name Reifer appears to have originated in the Middle Ages, when hereditary last names first began to emerge. During this period, people often adopted surnames to denote geographical locations, occupations, or family roots. This could mean that the Reifers were a family that originated in a German region known for its hedgerows or a former occupation related to making them. Alternately, it may merely be the result of a mispronunciation or shortened form of an earlier German surname.
Reifer is believed to be a fairly uncommon last name, historically found mainly in northern Germany. However, members of the Reifer family immigrate to the United States and other parts of the world in the 19th century, causing the name to become more widespread. Today, Reifers can be found throughout Europe and the Americas.
Order DNA origin analysisReifer: Where does the name Reifer come from?
The last name Reifer is most common today in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. It is also found throughout the English-speaking world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Caribbean and Latin American countries.
The name is believed to have first appeared in Germany in the late 18th or early 19th century, and immigrants bearing it subsequently made their way to the US, UK, and other places. Today, it is most common in the Northeast region of the United States. In Pennsylvania, it is the 4,236th most common name in terms of frequency.
In terms of origin, the name is likely derived from the given name Reif, which likely derived from the Germanic elements “ragin”, meaning "advice" or "counsel," and "fridu", meaning "peace" and "protection". Due to its Germanic roots, there is also speculation that the name may have originally been Riefer.
People bearing the Reifer name today can trace their roots back to German immigrants who made a home in the United States. The large population of Reifiers in the US today is a testament to their hard work and perseverance.
Variations of the surname Reifer
Reifer is a German occupational surname which derives from the word ‘Reifen’ meaning ‘to bind’ or ‘fasten’. The name refers to someone who made and sold bindings such as ropes or twines. It can also refer to someone who worked at a tannery doing work involving tanning, dyeing and drying leather. The modern-day variants and spellings of this surname include Reifer, Reiferr, Rearfher, Reiferth, Reiffer, Reifor, Reyffer, Royfer, Reif, Reifert, Reiff, Reiffert.
The surname is also found spelled as Rayfer, Reifferth, Roiffer, Reifferht, Reifarth, Riefer, Reyfer, Reiferth, Rifer, Ryefar, Royferth, Ryfert, Rieferth and Reifur. There are also surnames of similar origin, but which are spelled slightly differently, such as Reifen, Reifmann, Reifing, Reifenstein, Reifel, Reifferdt, Reifinger, Reiffenstein and Reiffing.
The most common spellings of the name Reifer are found in the US, Canada, Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland. The surname is also found in other countries such as England, France, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and South America.
In the US, the alternate spellings of the name Reifer are often found in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, Illinois, Ohio and Massachusetts. In Canada, the variants of the name can be found in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In France, the surname is found mainly in the region of Alsace-Lorraine and in the Netherlands it is found mainly in the region of North Holland.
Famous people with the name Reifer
- Gregory Reifer: Member of the Democratic National Committee from 2000-2002, former political consultant, and author
- Travis Reifer: Former engineer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Stefan Reifer: German Formula One engineer
- Jamie Reifer: Visual Effects Producer for various films
- Jerry Reifer: Major League Baseball umpire from 1983-1999
- Sturt Reifer: Jazz drummer for various bands and labels
- Tim Reifer: Editor and Producer for various television shows and films
- Knox Reifer: College football coach for the Kentucky Christian Knights
- Rob Reifer: Former lacrosse player for the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Knighthawks
- Jacob Reifer: Professional cyclist since 2009