Surname Riechel - Meaning and Origin
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Riechel: What does the surname Riechel mean?
The last name Riechel is of German origin, originating in the region of Wurttemberg in Southwestern Germany. The name can be traced back to the Old German 'Rigel', meaning 'shank of an arrow' or 'spear', and 'heil', meaning 'help or protection' or 'happy or lucky'. It was likely an occupational name for a craftsman who crafted and repaired arrows and spears. As a surname, it was likely derived from 'Riechel', a diminutive of the given names Rigel or Riegel, similar to 'Richel' and 'Richelmeister'.
The surname 'Riechel' appears to be rare, and there are few records available showing it prior to the 16th century. During this period, members of the Riechel family were living in Wurttemberg as workers in the glassmaking and copper mining trades. They also likely engaged in farming, as did many early German settlers.
Today, the Riechel surname still exists, although it is not very common. Its meaning is still tied to its original origins, and it remains a testament to the strength of the German heritage and culture. The significance of the name lies in its history and its continued presence in families of German descent.
Order DNA origin analysisRiechel: Where does the name Riechel come from?
The last name Riechel is most commonly found in Germany, where it is at times spelled Riechelmann or Riechelt, and is especially prevalent in the regions of North Rhine–Westphalia, Bavaria and Saxony. It is also found in countries bordering Germany, such as Austria and Poland. Riechel is also an uncommonly-used name in the United States and Canada, although there are a few individuals living in those countries with this last name.
The Riechel family is believed to have originated in Prussia, where the first known Riechelt, Henneke Riechelmann, lived in the year 1700 in the small town of Sandau. Riechel is thought to have originated from a patronymic nickname originally derived from the given name Riechel, a variant form of the Hebrew name, Rachel, meaning "sheep."
In the mid-1800's, many Riechel families emigrated to other areas of Europe, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway. Other Riechels emigrated to the United States, where they eventually settled in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis and New York City. Canada welcomed many Riechel families, and there is a particularly large presence in the province of Ontario.
Today, the name Riechel is still primarily located in Germany, as well as its bordering countries and in North America. Additionally, it can be found in many other parts of the world due to individuals’ emigration and population changes through the years, making it an increasingly international last name.
Variations of the surname Riechel
The surname Riechel has many variations in spelling and surnames of similar origin. One of the most common variants of the name is Riechelmann, simply suggesting the addition of “mann” to the name. Other spellings include Richel, Riechl, Reeckle, Reeckel, Riesche, Rishel, Richele, Rychel, Rychele and Richie.
The various surnames may have their origin in several places in Europe, including Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the root of the rhymes is from the Old High German words rechel, meaning “popular”, or rihe, meaning “king's court”. Rich also possibly has Celtic roots, with the Gaelic ros meaning “promontory”.
In Poland, the surname Rieschel may have evolved from the Yiddish Richman or Richelman. This name simply means “rich man” and has roots in German and Ashkenazi Jewish culture.
In Switzerland, the name Riechel may have come from the Latin Richel, a surname that may have meant “richest”. In Austria, "Riechel" may be derived from the German rionzel, which means “ray from the sun”.
In Czech Republic, a variant of the name “Ryscal” is a very common spelling, and in the English language, “Rychel” is a form of the same surname. These variations all point at a very similar origin, either from German names or from Jewish culture.
In summary, the surname Riechel has many different spellings and names of similar origins, mostly from the German and Jewish language. Variations may range from Richel to Rieschel or Rychel, with all these variations pointing at a very similar origin.
Famous people with the name Riechel
- Peter Riechel: A German film and theater actor, voice artist, screenwriter, and director best known for his role in the musical film Die Männer Vom K3.
- Phil Riechel: An American college basketball coach who is currently an assistant for the University of Michigan Wolverines.
- Bob Riechel: An American former professional basketball player who is best remembered for his three-year stint in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers.
- Janet Riechel: A German editor and screenwriter who wrote for the TV series Neues aus Uhlenbusch and Getsafe.
- Carl Riechel: A German-born physicist who was the founding director of the Institute for Basic Research in the Natural Sciences at the Free University of Berlin.
- Otto Riechel: A German-born chemist who founded the first Coca-Cola plant in Germany in 1899.
- Anne Riechel: An American artist and designer whose work explores the relationship between visual art and music.
- Monroe Riechel: An American economist and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who developed the “Riechel Index” of economic freedom.
- Hans Riechel: A German-born professional soccer player who played for numerous teams in the Federal Republic of Germany from 1948 to 1965.
- August Riechel: An American figure skater who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz.