Surname Reichel - Meaning and Origin
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Reichel: What does the surname Reichel mean?
The last name Reichel is of German origin and is often derived from the Middle High German words “Reh” or “Reich”, meaning deer or rich, respectively. This name is classified as a habitational or locational name and would have been used to describe someone who lived in a deer-rich area or perhaps as a sign of opulence.
The individuals with the last name Reichel are said to have inhabited an area near the Austrian-Czech border centuries ago, indicating they were likely once part of one of the old German kingdoms in the region.
More recently, the Reichel surname is typically found in Austria as well as in the United States and Canada. In the US, the Reichel surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and the midwest states.
The Reichel surname encompasses numerous variants from dialects and languages. Variants of the name include Reichle in Germany, Reichelt in German-speaking Switzerland, Riechle in Switzerland, and Reichelt and Reicherl in Austria.
It is a popular German surname, with an estimated 400,000 people in the world bearing the name. Reichels who have distinguished themselves include former German Chancellor Helmut Reichel, the founding president of the Seminary for Deaconesses in Basel, Switzerland, Johann Jakob Reichel, and the former head of the Prussian army, Gerhard Reichel.
Order DNA origin analysisReichel: Where does the name Reichel come from?
The last name Reichel is a German surname, originating in the German region of Bavaria. It is common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as other European countries. It is also widely used in the United States, where it is the 4,027th most common name overall. The surname is most commonly found in the Midwest and Northeastern states, though it is also present in pockets across the entire country.
In the United States, the majority of people with the Reichel last name live in Wisconsin with over 5,300 individuals using the name, followed by New York with about 2,500 individuals and Michigan with 1,900. Beyond that, other states with large populations of Reichels include Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota, and Texas.
Those with the Reichel last name generally come from Germanic origins, and it is frequently found among those with German and Austrian heritage. It is also believed to be an occupational name, since ‘Reichel’ could have been given to those involved in a variety of trades, such as tailoring, weaving, and farm work.
The Reichel name has been seen in popular culture in books, mostly in Germany, and a few film and tv series. There have also been people with the last name Reichel who have made a name for themselves in various fields, such as sports, medicine, and the arts.
Variations of the surname Reichel
Reichel is a German surname with many variants and spellings. The original spelling, Reichel, is derived from the German word reichel, meaning ‘little ruler’, ‘nobleman’, or ‘prince’. Some of the spelling variations of Reichel are Reichel, Reichl, Ryechel, Rychel, Reichels, Reichls, and Rycel.
Surnames with similar origins and spellings include Reichelt, Reichle, Ryehle, Rechle, Riechel, Riechle, Riechelmann, Riegel, and Riechelmann. All of these are derived from the German word reichel, meaning ‘little ruler’, ‘nobleman’, or ‘prince’.
Another variant of the surname Reichel is Reiche. This variant is derived from the German word reich, meaning ‘rich’ or ‘wealthy’. The spelling variations of Reiche include Reicher, Reichl, Reycher, Reichers, Reichls, and Reychle.
The surname Reichel can also be found in other languages, although the name may have a slightly different spelling. For example, in French, the surname would appear as Réichel or Richel. In Latin, the spelling would be Reginaldus or Reinaldus. In Dutch, the surname would be Reekel, Reijkel, or Reiekel.
Overall, the surname Reichel has many variants and spellings, which all originate from the same source. Between the English, German, French, Latin, and Dutch versions, as well as the assorted spellings from each language, there are dozens of ways that the surname Reichel can appear in the records.
Famous people with the name Reichel
- Mat Reichel: German actor and film director
- Paul Reichel: Former Ice Hockey player and coach
- Yves Reichel: Senior Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
- Johannes Reichel: German painter and sculptor
- Kurt Reichel: German engineer, designer, and inventor
- Robert Reichel: Czech professional ice hockey player
- Felix Reichel: Swiss painter, watercolorist, and muralist
- Michael Reichel: Former German footballer
- Christiane Reichel: German film producer
- Frank Reichel: Austrian DJ, composer, and record producer