Surname Raitmeier - Meaning and Origin

Raitmeier: What does the surname Raitmeier mean?

The last name Raitmeier is of German origin, derived from the given name "Rait" (or "Ratz"), the nickname of Jakob, the Hebrew name Ya'akov. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages and was often used to form patronymic surnames, such as Ratzmeier and Raitmeier. The word Ratz is derived from the German word "ratzen" which means to chat, engage in idle conversation, or to gossip.

The surname Raitmeier or Ratzmeier first appeared in records in the 13th century. One early record found in the 13th century was of a German family in the city of Oppenheim which held this name; the surname was also present in the cities of Frankfort, Hamburg, and Bavaria.

Raitmeier is an occupational surname, which denotes a person who engages in gossiping or talking about others. It can also be seen as being related to a profession of ratcatching. This profession was fairly common in the Middle Ages and it is likely that Raitmeier was used to denote someone with this occupation.

Raitmeier is a fairly rare surname. It is most commonly found in the Bavarian and German regions where it originated. Today, it is still used in parts of Germany, but the number of people bearing this name is quite small.

Raitmeier: Where does the name Raitmeier come from?

The last name Raitmeier is most often found in Germany today. It is a popular surname there; Raitmeier is the 830th most common surname in that country. In the United States, where it is generally believed to have migrated from Germany, it is much less common. As of 2019, the last name Raitmeier was the 29,327th most common surname in America, according to the United States Census Bureau. It is likely that the majority of people with this name living in the United States are of Germanic descent; a significant portion of Raitmeier's living in the United States have ancestors who migrated from Germany during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

There are other populations scattered throughout Europe, particularly in Poland and France, though the name remains far more common in Germany. The last name is also present in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America, though these populations are generally much smaller.

Overall, the last name Raitmeier has a long history, and is most commonly found in Germany today. It is likely that many of the Raitmeier's living abroad have ancestors who migrated from Germany during the 1800s and early 1900s, though there are certainly exceptions.

Variations of the surname Raitmeier

The most common spelling of the surname Raitmeier is Raifmeier. The alternatives might include Raytmeyer, Raytemeier, Raetemeyer, Raetmeyeur, Raetmeyer, Raitsmeyeur, Raitsmayer, Raitsmeyer and Raytsmeier.

In terms of derivations and variants, Raifmeier could be connected to the Old High German personal name "Raginmar" or the Germanic element "ragin" which stands for counsel.

Other surnames related by origin to Raifmeier are Rathmeier, Raimey, Raymey, Raymey, Rathmey, Raami, Raammey, Raitmeyer and Raimann.

As for the source of this surname, it is speculated to originate from Bavaria. Records indicate that the Raitmeier family was active there in the medieval period as brewers and bank owners. This implies that the surname can be classified as of German origin, though there is also a chance it could have Scandinavian origins, given the Germanic element of the name.

Given the commonalities between the surnames either derived or related to Raifmeier, if one is searching for the origin of the surname, it is worth researching into these other names as well.

Famous people with the name Raitmeier

• Philipp Raitmeier: A German badminton player and European Champion who represented Germany in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
• Henry Raitmeier: A Canadian actor and voice artist, known for his roles in such movies as Outbreak, A Name for Evil, and Soul Searcher.
• Clara Raitmeier: An American public health researcher and community activist, she is the co-founder of the organization, Moms for Child Health and Education.
• Marlene Raitmeier: A German actress, and her most notable role was in the movie, Berlin Calling.
• Heinrich Raitmeier: An Austrian-born composer and conductor, he is best known for his compositions for operas and operettas.
• Erich Raitmeier: A German football player, he represented his country at two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
• Christina Raitmeier: A German singer, she is best known for her performance of the song “Wild Honey” in Germany's version of the musical, Cruel Intentions.
• Peter Raitmeier: A German banker and CEO of Commerzbank, the second-largest bank in Germany.
• Ekkehard Raitmeier: A German sculptor who has been honored with numerous awards and accolades for his works.
• Katharina Raitmeier: An American journalist and media personality, she is the host of the popular web series, My Life in 10 Minutes.

Other surnames

Raitmeir