Surname Riebesam - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Riebesam: What does the surname Riebesam mean?
The last name Riebesam is a German surname which is believed to have originated from the Germanic personal name Reibuwiniz, composed of the elements "rei" meaning "army" and "buwiniz," which means "assistant." Over time, this name took on the more simplified spelling of Riebesam, which would be translated as “army supporter.”
It is believed that the Riebesam name may have been used in ancient times to denote a man who served as an assistant to those in the army. This form of assistance was likely the equivalent of a modern day quartermaster, responsible for providing materials and supplies to help soldiers prepare for battle.
It is also possible that the name may come from an occupational background, used to refer to a worker at a smithy, forge or ironworks. In this instance, the name indicates someone who was a skilled worker with metal, someone who could create armaments and tools for the military and civilian populations.
In recent centuries, the family name of Riebesam migrated away from Germany to many other countries, including the United States. Here, it became a surname of choice for many immigrants and their descendants. It is now found in many English-speaking countries around the world, as proof that it was once a defining feature of a long and proud German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisRiebesam: Where does the name Riebesam come from?
The last name Riebesam is most common today in the United States, with the highest population being in Indiana. It is also common in Germany, mainly in the Rheinland-Pfalz region, where many of its earliest incarnations came from in the Middle Ages.
The Middle German term “Riebesam” most likely originally meant “one who comes from Riebe” – a family of noble descent. It is derived from the Middle Low German Ricke or Old German Rikin – which was a personal name meaning “counselor”.
Over the centuries, the name has been spelled many different ways as various languages began to adopt, change, and add to family names. Variations on the spelling include Riepsom, Riepesam, Riebesem, Riebesom, and Reepsam.
Despite its long history, the surname Riebesam is still relatively uncommon in the United States today. According to the US Census Bureau's website, the population size of people with the last name Riebesam was 248 people in 2010 – the most recent year for which records are available. This represents only 0.0001% of the total US population.
Despite the rarity of the name, Riebesams are proud of their heritage and many have documented their family tree. Through genealogy research, one can trace the origin of the Riebesam family back to the 16th century in the village of Kneppertz in the Rhineland-Pfalz region of Germany, where the family name first appeared on record.
Today, the last name Riebesam is still strongly linked to Indiana, where approximately 107 of the 248 people with this name live. It is a small but proud community of people who can trace their roots back to the 15th century and beyond.
Variations of the surname Riebesam
The surname Riebesam is generally pronounced as either “REE-bess-em” or “REE-bee-sam.” It is most likely of German origin, and is derived from the Middle High German personal name “Ribesam,” meaning “crooked mouth.”
Variants of this surname include Riebesma, Riebesehl, Riebesnell, and Rebesam. Common spellings include Riebsam, Riebsom, Riebeson, Riebesom, Riebesson, and Riebson.
The surname may also appear in alternate forms, such as Ribbesam, Ribbsam, Ribsam, Ribson, Ripsam, or Reebesam. Variants also exist for other languages, such as French (Riebesan) and Dutch (Riebesen or Ribesen).
In some cases, the spelling of the last name may have been changed over time. Common alternate spellings include Riepsam, Reapesam, Reeeksam, Reepesam, Riepezam, Riepezman, Reepeesam, and Riephesam.
Finally, some surnames of similar origin include Riebesehl, Riebemann, Rupesam, Ruppesam, and Reubelsam.
Overall, the surnames Riebesam and its variants are quite rare. However, it can be found in records and documents related to Germany, the Netherlands, and France.
Famous people with the name Riebesam
- Jeanine Riebesam: Jeanine Riebesam is an American actress, best known for her roles in the television series Grim and in the 2011 action thriller Abduction.
- Sven Riebesam: Sven Riebesam is a German professional snowboarder and skier. He won the gold medal in the halfpipe category at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
- Adriana Riebesam: Adriana Riebesam is a Dutch photographer and visual artist. She works in a range of media, including digital, film, and video.
- David Riebesam: David Riebesam is the co-founder and CEO of ThinkParametric, a company specializing in parametric design and digital product development.
- René Riebesam: René Riebesam is a German-American soccer coach and former professional soccer player. He is the head coach of the National Premier Soccer League’s Michigan Stars.
- Eugene Riebesam: Eugene Riebesam is an American engineer and inventor. He is best known for his inventions related to railway safety systems and for his patent on the gravimeter machine.
- Dexter Riebesam: Dexter Riebesam is an American painter and filmmaker. His paintings explore themes related to industry, technology, and nature, while his films combine elements of documentary, animation, and experimental cinema.
- Justin Riebesam: Justin Riebesam is an American model and actor. He has appeared in numerous television commercials and small guest roles in TV shows, such as Modern Family and NCIS: Los Angeles.