Surname Reichmann - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Ancestral Lineage and Understanding the Reichmann Surname using an iGENEA DNA Test
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R. Reichmann
read moreReichmann: What does the surname Reichmann mean?
The last name Reichmann is derived from the German word “Reich,” which translates to mean “Empire” or “Realm.” This is a common surname found among individuals of German heritage, and it was once a popular name for many noble families, particularly those of the Austrian Empire. The Reichmann family is said to have originated in Austria in the 15th century and later spread to Germany, France, Poland, and Scandinavia.
The Reichmann family is well-known for being one of the prominent Jewish families of the 20th century. Several members of the family were successful entrepreneurs, business magnates, and philanthropists. The most notable members of the Reichmann family include Hungarian-Canadian real estate developer Paul Reichmann, his brother Albert Reichmann, and their brothers-in-law Jack and Ralph Steinberg.
This family's success was known throughout Europe, and when Paul and Albert moved to Toronto, Canada in the late 1970s, the family began its first project outside of Europe, the World Financial Center in Toronto. The brothers then established the Olympia & York property company which went on to become one of the world's largest developers. The Reichmann family's business empire eventually became worth billions of dollars.
In addition to their business achievements, the Reichmann family are known for their substantial philanthropic contributions, mainly to medical and Jewish charitable causes. They have established a number of charitable foundations which focus on issues such as medical research and Jewish education. To this day, the Reichmann name is synonymous with success, business acumen and philanthropy.
Order DNA origin analysisReichmann: Where does the name Reichmann come from?
The last name Reichmann is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is not as widely dispersed as some last names, however. A large portion of individuals with the last name Reichmann trace their ancestry back to a small Jewish family of business people and financiers, originally from Hungary.
The Reichmann Family was originally Jewish, however, some of its members converted to Roman Catholicism during the 19th century. Three of the siblings, Paul, Edward, and Albert, relocated to Vienna, Austria in the 1880s, where they founded a construction business. Over the next several decades, the Reichmanns grew their business and amassed significant wealth. However, they fled Europe during the Holocaust and lost everything.
The family resurfaced in the mid-1950s and began rebuilding their empire. Brothers Paul (and his sons) and Albert (and his sons) moved to Toronto, Canada and started the real estate company Olympia & York in 1962. During the 1980s and 90s, the Reichmanns acquired a vast real estate portfolio in North America, Europe, Israel, and Australia.
Today, the Reichmann family retains much of its wealth, though it is primarily divided between the various branches of the family that have since relocated to different parts of the world. Though the Reichmanns are spread out, descendants of the original family continue to leave their mark on the global economy.
Variations of the surname Reichmann
The surname Reichmann is derived from either the German word 'Rhein' which could denoted the masculine given name 'Rike' or 'Reinmann,' referring to an ancestor from the Rhineland region of Germany. It is a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from the names of places.
Similar surnames include Reachman, Reichman, Rechmann, Reicherman, Reigelman, Reigman and Riechmann. Variants with other spellings, such as the more common spelling for this surname, Reichman, would appear to have identifies influenced by other regions and cultures, especially those of Eastern Europe.
The surname Reichmann could also have possibly emerged as a regional variant of 'Reichar', which is a variation of the given name Richar and could refer to 'the son of Richar'.
Other variants that could be part of the same family are Reichel, Rechollow, Reichert, Reiff, Reis, Reiss, Riser, and Ryker. Also spelled as Rychert in Switzerland, Reichhart in Austria, and Reichhardt or Reichardt in Germany.
It is also common to see the surnames Reinmann and Reinhart, which trace back in German records to medieval times. They are thought to be derived from the Middle High German 'rein(e)' which means 'pure', 'clean', or 'sacred'. Both Reinmann and Reinhart refer to something or someone 'pure' or 'holy'.
The surname Reichmann is widely used and can be found in several countries, including Austria, Germany, France, and the United States. The same pronunciations, spellings, and variations are found in many other cultures and regions.
Famous people with the name Reichmann
- Paul Reichmann: Billionaire businessman from Canada and founder of the Reichmann family's business empire.
- Albert Reichmann: Canadian businessman and former Chairman of Olympia & York Developments Ltd., a Canadian-based real estate company.
- Ralph Reichmann: Canadian businessman, former Chairman and CEO of Olympia & York Developments Ltd., a Canadian-based real estate company.
- Belinda Stronach: Canadian businesswoman, former executive at Magna, and former Member of Parliament for the riding of Newmarket–Aurora.
- Aaron Reichmann: Canadian entrepreneur and co-founder of FreestyleXtreme, an online retailer specializing in extreme sports.
- Ben Reichmann: Canadian Olympic gold medalist (boxing, 1984) and member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
- Kenneth Reichmann: Canadian businessman, former CEO, and chairman of Imasco Limited, a Canadian-based holding company.
- Jonathan Reichmann: Canadian businessman, former President and CEO of Cara Operations, a Canadian foodservice company.
- Jennifer Reichmann: Canadian lawyer and former Executive Director of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
- Phillip Reichmann: Canadian businessman and hedge fund manager.