Surname Reiferth - Meaning and Origin
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Reiferth: What does the surname Reiferth mean?
Reiferth is a German surname originating in the Middle Ages. Its literal translation is "reeve of earth," indicating that some of the earliest bearers of the surname were stewards of large peasant estates or surveyors of ground. Its regional variant forms include Reifarth, Riffarth, and Reiffarth.
In the early days, the Reiferth surname was common among prosperous landowners and farmers in the area of what is now the federal state of Bavaria in southern Germany. It has also been found in the neighboring areas of Austria and Switzerland.
The Reiferth surname could have evolved to its present-day form via several processes, including localization, translation, and the phonetic evolvement of dialects. There are many other variations of the Reiferth name, like Reifferth, Reifarth, Rieferth, and Reifert.
Later, the name spread to other parts of Europe as people with the name moved abroad. Most notably, many Reiferths emigrated to the United States and Canada in the nineteenth century, settling mainly in Pennsylvania and New York. This diaspora has helped to preserve the name in its various forms abroad, and many of these immigrants went on to found large and well-established Reiferth families.
The Reiferth surname is an ancient and noble one, with its origins steeped in the proud culture and history of Bavaria. Bearing this surname is a reminder of a proud legacy and of all those who have contributed to its growth and expansion abroad.
Order DNA origin analysisReiferth: Where does the name Reiferth come from?
The last name Reiferth is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in Wisconsin. The vast majority of individuals with that last name in the US are descended from German immigrants, primarily from the Rhineland Palatine region which is now part of modern France and Germany. The first known record of the name in the US traces back to the early 1800s. The prevalence of the Reiferth surname in Wisconsin is likely due to a sizeable number of German immigrants who settled in the state around that time.
Today, the most concentrated places of Reiferth’s are the Milwaukee area, western Wisconsin, and the eastern parts of the state as well. It’s estimated that more than 75 percent of Reiferth’s in the US live in the Badger State.
In addition to Wisconsin, the name is also found in other states such as Texas, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, often in areas with a higher German American population. Additionally, there are some Reiferths scattered across Europe, primarily in Germany, Switzerland and France.
While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, it is believed to be derived from the German or Latin words meaning "rider" or "refuge." Because of the surname's rather unique spelling and history of immigration through the US it is not too difficult to trace back the origins of the Reiferth family.
Variations of the surname Reiferth
Reiferth is a German surname derived from an old German family name Reiffarth, which dates back to the 13th–14th centuries. The name refers to the geographical location of those who used to bear the name, and can be roughly translated as ‘people from a rocky and rough terrain’. It can also refer to a person who works in an arduous environment or an environment with little rewards.
Some of the variants and spellings of the surname Reiferth are Riefferth, Rifferth, Reifferth, Riffert, Riffeorth, Riffeert, Ryfferth, and Reifarth.
Surnames with the same origin as Reiferth include Riffarth, Riffel, Riffle, Ryffel, Rieffel, Reifel, Ryffle, Reiffel, Reiffert, Rifert, and Reifert.
Similar geographic surnames are also found in other European countries, such as the French surname Riffart and the Dutch surname Ryffart.
In other regions like North America, the surname has also been spelt as Ripferd, Reepeferd, Riford, Rifferd, Rieferd, Rufford, Rufferd, and Reford.
The surname has become common across continental Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, largely due to waves of immigration from the continent over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Reiferth
- Erich Reiferth: German goalkeeper who represented Germany in four Olympic Games in the 1960s.
- Sandy Reiferth: American actress best known for her roles in the films The Expendables and Step Up 2.
- Camille Reiferth: American fashion designer best known for her line of evening dresses.
- Thomas Reiferth: German chess player who won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1992.
- William Reiferth: American ice hockey player who played in the NHL from 1951 to 1957.
- Matthew Reiferth: Former CEO of the history-making online security company IronNet Cybersecurity.
- Andrew Reiferth: Award-winning composer, musician, and singer-songwriter.
- Stephen Reiferth: International model and actor who has appeared in ads for Hugo Boss, Banana Republic, and Guess.
- David Reiferth: Former NFL quarterback who played for the Minnesota Vikings in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Edward Reiferth: Distinguished professor of government at the University of Maryland and a leading expert on foreign policy.