Surname Räppold - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Räppold: What does the surname Räppold mean?
Räppold is a family name of German origin. It has numerous variations including Rappold, Reppold or Rappolt. The name was first recorded in the 13th century when a man named Reginboto de Räppolt was mentioned in historical documents.
The meaning of Räppold is not known with certainty though many believe that it derives from the German 'rappen' meaning to grab or to snatch. In this case, the name may have initially been given to someone who was quick or skillful with their hands. Other theories suggest that the name may have been derived from Middle High German meaning 'at the rapids', referring to someone who lived near a river or a stream.
Today, Räppold is one of the most common family names in Germany. It is also quite popular in other countries including Switzerland, Austria, and the US where it is often spelled as 'Rappold'. Individuals with this name typically take great pride in their heritage and often strive to continue the legacy of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisRäppold: Where does the name Räppold come from?
The last name Räppold is common in parts of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Romania. It is also found in estern Slovakia and western Ukraine.
The name first appeared in the German language in the 12th century. It is derived from the Germanic personal names ‘Rapolt’ or ‘Rappolt’. It was used as a diminutive of the personal name Rapold, meaning ‘brave person’.
Today, the name Räppold is most common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, the name is found mainly in the states of Bavaria, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. In Switzerland, it is mainly found in the cantons of Bern and Lucerne.
In the U.S. and Canada, the name has been used since at least the 19th century. It is mainly found in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada’s Ontario and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name Räppold is widespread throughout much of the German-speaking countries in Europe and has also been carried to North America by German immigrants. As the name has also been adopted by other nationalities, it is still popular in other parts of Europe, in some former German-speaking territories, as well as in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Räppold
Räppold is not a particularly common surname. It is likely to have originated from a place name, and variations of the surname are likely to take their form from different regional dialects.
The most common spelling of the surname is Räppold, and variations include Räpold, Rappold, Rappolt, Rappoltl, and Rapold.
The surname is likely to have had its origin in the Bavarian and Alpine regions of Germany. In Bavarian dialects, ‘Räp-’ is a variation of ‘Rap-’. The second part of the name comes from the word ‘pold’, which is often used to denote a hill or upland.
The surname is also found in Austria and can be spelt ‘Rapolt’ in the Vorarlberger dialect. Variants in Italian dialects of the Alps may include ‘Rapoldini’, ‘Rapalt’ and ‘Rapoldi’.
Räppold is likely to have originally been a nickname given to someone who was associated with a particular upland or hill. Other variants of the name, such as Rapoltl or Rappoltl, could have been used to denote a person who lived near a particular hill or upland.
Given the range of dialects and locations in which the surname is found, there may well be other surnames and variants of Räppold which are yet to be discovered.
Famous people with the name Räppold
- Daniel Räppold: German singer
- Richard Räppold: German actor
- Antje Räppold: German politician
- Toni Räppold: German football manager
- Heinz Räppold: German finance expert
- Heiner Räppold: German entrepreneur
- Luca Räppold: German visual artist
- Andreas Räppold: German designer
- Marius Räppold: German musician
- Florian Räppold: German World Cup ski racer