Surname Reinhardt - Meaning and Origin

Bridging Past and Present: A Review of My iGENEA DNA Test and Connections Made Through the Reinhardt Surname

Unraveling ancestral roots and connecting with bearers of the same surname through the iGENEA DNA test, this detailed review illuminates the insightful journey of exploring the ancient lineage of the Reinhardt family.

X. Reinhardt

Reinhardt: What does the surname Reinhardt mean?

Reinhardt is a German surname that originated from the given name Reinhard, which itself hails from two Germanic elements: "ragin," meaning advice or decision, and "hart," meaning hardy or strong. Therefore, the surname Reinhardt can be viewed as signifying a person who is strong in counsel or has a powerful decision-making ability. Like many surnames beginning with "Rein," it's likely to have been initially a personal name that later transitioned to become a surname, possibly passed down from an influential or respected ancestor. It's also important to note that surname meanings can sometimes be symbolic or figurative, referring to qualities or characteristics admired or valued in a society. Over time, Reinhardt had several variations in spelling due to regional differences and changes in language use. Today, individuals with the last name Reinhardt can be found across many parts of the globe, although it remains most common in Germany and Central Europe.

Reinhardt: Where does the name Reinhardt come from?

The last name Reinhardt is most commonly seen today in Germany, though it is scattered around the world. Variations of this name include Reinhard, Reineck, Reinharde, Reineke, Rheinhardt and Rhinehart.

In Germany, the name can be found in the states of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. There are also records showing the name in Prussia, now part of Poland. According to a 1990 German census, 10,202 people had the surname Reinhardt.

The name Reinhardt is also a popular name in the United States and Canada. In the United States, there were 18,053 people recorded with the name in 2017. This name was most common in states like Texas, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. There were also 2,024 people recorded with the last name in Canada.

Outside of Germany and North America, other countries that have a significant population of Reinhardt's include South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom and Austria.

No matter where you are in the world, the Reinhardt name is sure to be found!

Variations of the surname Reinhardt

The Reinhardt surname is quite common with many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are Rueinhardt, Reinkardt, Rainhard, Rienhart, Reinhard, Rehneggerd, Rein saids, Reinhardter, Reingard, Reinhart, Reinholz, Reenerd, Rinelt, Rineggaard, Reinarts, Renhard, Renz and Reno.

The origins of the Reinhardt surname date back to the middle ages of Europe, when there were various Noble Houses that had the right to bear arms. The original contribution of the surname could have been a family who owned, or worked for, a estate or castle and adopted the name from one of the many noble families and their serfs.

The surname Reinhardt originally derived from the name 'Reinhard', a German first name representing the Old Germanic first name 'Heoredo', later 'Reinhard'. It is also possible that it could have derived from 'Rainhard', a male given name of Germanic origin which dates to the Middle Ages and is composed of two elements, 'Rain' and 'Hard'.

Reinhardt is also a common Jewish surname, although it is likely that this surname is not related to the Reinhardt surname of German origin. Some Jewish families adopted certain surnames to blend in with their Protestant neighbours. They may have changed the ending to the surname from 'hardt' to 'hart' to appear more German.

The Reinhardt surname has spread to many countries world and continues to be a common name to this day. It is found throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and other English speaking countries.

Famous people with the name Reinhardt

• Django Reinhardt: the Belgian-born and Paris-based guitarist who founded the string jazz genre called Gypsy Jazz in the 1930s. He released dozens of recordings during his career, including "Minor Swing", which became one of the most popular jazz standards ever.
• Hannelore Reinhardt: a German modernist painter and sculptor whose work explored the female form, especially its softness and curves. Her later works incorporated abstract expressionism.
• Wolfgang Reinhardt: the oldest nephew of Django Reinhardt, he was a singer and guitarist. Speaking both German and French, Wolfgang was the lead vocalist of Die Mochevelle Quintet, a parody cabaret group.
• Garrison Keillor: the legendary American writer, humorist, and radio host who used the last name Reinhardt on one of his shows.
• Werner Reinhardt: a Swiss comedy writer, director, and producer who is best known for his work on several "Pink Panther" films, including "The Pink Panther Strikes Again."
• Daniel Reinhardt: the German film director who is most famous for directing "Kanal Fatal" and "The Hairdresser's Husband."
• Amy Reinhardt: an American drummer who is most renowned for touring with the bands Thrice and Hot Snakes.
• William Reinhardt: an American science fiction writer who wrote a series of books based on "Star Trek" and "Doctor Who" storylines.
• Brigitte Reinhardt: an award-winning Swiss photographer who is especially known for her work depicting the everyday lives of the rural and urban poor in Africa and Latin America.
• Jesse Reinhardt: an American cyclist who won the bronze medal in the Team Pursuit at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Other surnames

ReinhardReinhardsReinhardtsReinhardtzReinhardusReinhartReinharthReinhartzReinharz