Surname Reiffert - Meaning and Origin
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Reiffert: What does the surname Reiffert mean?
The last name Reiffert is an occupational surname that derives from a German word meaning “refiner”. This likely refers to a person who applied finishing touches to materials such as fur, leather, or metal. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages in the Rhineland region of Western Germany.
The name could have been given to someone who worked with a range of materials including pelts, hides, or metalwork, as well as items such as scale armor and weapons. They likely used a variety of tools to refine the products, such as knives, files, hammers, and tongs. They may also have used techniques such as dyeing or tanning to give the materials their desired final appearance.
Throughout time, the Reiffert surname may have spread beyond the Rhineland and taken root in other regions of Germany. Over the centuries it may have been altered in spelling or pronunciation, making its meaning less obvious.
Today, the surname Reiffert is most commonly found in Germany and parts of the United States and Canada. Those who bear the name are descended from the brave individuals who created products of lasting value and beauty from raw materials.
Order DNA origin analysisReiffert: Where does the name Reiffert come from?
The last name Reiffert is most common in Germany today, particularly in the Northern and Central parts of the country. It may also be found more widely throughout Europe, including in the Netherlands, Estonia, and Romania. The name originated in Germany and is first recorded there in the 16th century.
It is possible that the Reiffert family originally comes from the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Hesse in Germany, although it is not possible to pinpoint the exact location of the family’s origin. When Germany was divided after World War II, the family name spread out into many countries, including across Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Reifferts are found in various cities throughout Germany, including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, and Hannover. The name is also quite common in the western part of the country, where it is concentrated in the areas of the former West Germany. There are also many Reiffert families in larger cities, such as Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Bremen.
Increasing levels of international migration throughout the 21st century means that it is now possible to find Reifferts living in a range of different countries around the world. However, it is still in Germany that there are the most Reifferts today, with the greatest numbers concentrated in the Northern and Central parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Reiffert
The surname Reiffert is derived from the German or Middle Low German words refe or rieve, meaning "man of counsel". It is also spelled as Reiffarth, Reifarth, Reifferth, Reifert, Reiffer, Reifferd, Reifferdt, Reifart, Reif, Rayfart, Rayfarth, Rayfert, Rafer, Raffer, Ruffer, Rofer, Rufert, Ruffert, Ruffartz, Ruffart, and Rufer.
The earliest known bearers of the surname were most likely members of a counsel of advisers or diplomats to a German prince or leader, and likely took the name to distinguish themselves from their peers. Some records suggest that the Reiffert surname first appeared in records in 1440 in Pizarro, Germany.
In the 18th century, variations of the Reiffert surname migrated throughout Europe, including to England, Scotland, France, and even the islands of the Caribbean and North America. There is also evidence of similar surnames, such as Refert and Reifchet, who were listed in Scotland in the 19th century. The Reifferts were typically of the middle class and were often involved in mercantile, merchant, industrial, and professional trade pursuits.
In the United States, the Reiffert surname is primarily found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. The numerous variations of this surname can be attributed to the German dialects of the early German states, the migration of German immigrants abroad, and spelling errors due to early recordkeeping. To this day, the variations of this surname continue to persist in several locations around the world.
Famous people with the name Reiffert
- Niclas Reiffert: Former professional basketball player for Braunschweig and Köln 99ers.
- Roderick Reiffert: Former professional Australian soccer player.
- Anthony Reiffert: Professional Sint Maarten cricketer.
- Jo Reiffert: Swiss football manager.
- Chris Reiffert: American professional boxer.
- Billy Reiffert: Award-winning American pianist and composer.
- Myriam Reiffert: German film director and screenwriter.
- Bruce Reiffert: American college basketball coach.
- Marisa Reiffert: Professional Belgian windsurfer.
- Raymond Reiffert: German ice hockey player.
- Christopher Reiffert: American football coach.
- Ethan Reiffert: Professional Dutch chess grandmaster.
- Mike Reiffert: Former professional Canadian ice hockey defenceman.
- A. Remy Reiffert: Professor of philosophy at Catholic University of America.
- Ricarda Reiffert: German synchronized swimmer.
- Stijn Reiffert: Professional Belgian long-distance runner.
- Jörg Reiffert: German bobsleigh and skeleton rider.
- Stephen Reiffert: English professional darts player.
- Matthias Reiffert: Former German footballer and manager.
- Oliver Reiffert: German beach volleyball player.