Surname Reinholz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Reinholz: What does the surname Reinholz mean?
Reinholz is German for "reindeer woods," a descriptive name probably given to someone who lived near a particularly wooded area populated by reindeer. It likely originated as an occupational or locational surname derived from the Old German phrase "rein holz," signifying an area that was populated by reindeer. The rapid population growth during the Middle Ages often resulted in two different people acquiring surnames from the same source. Reinholz could have evolved from two separate roots, one meaning "reindeer wood" and the other signifying a man whose name was Reinold and who worked in a wood.
The Reinholz name can be traced back to the 12th century in Northern Germany and historically it can be found mainly in the states of Saxony and Bavaria. Records of the name date as far back as the year 1209, making it one of the oldest surnames in Europe. Today, Reinholz is still a popular surname in Germany with approximately 3000 people carrying the name. The Reinholz surname is also prevalent in many other parts of Europe as well as North America.
The surname Reinholz is made up of two distinct parts: "Rein" meaning "reindeer" and "holz," meaning "woods." Together, they symbolize the meaning of the name: a living space for deer. Its origin speaks to a long tradition of reindeer herding in Northern Germany which dates back centuries.
People are still drawn to the surname Reinholz today, either through an ancestral connection or in admiration of its natural beauty and historical significance. Whether it is used for a surname or to evoke an atmosphere of natural tranquility, the image of deer among the trees will always be associated with the historic name Reinholz.
Order DNA origin analysisReinholz: Where does the name Reinholz come from?
The last name Reinholz is most likely of German origins and today the name is still widely found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the name is also found in the United States with relatively high concentrations in states like New York and New Jersey. Additionally, it's found in some parts of Canada, particularly Ontario.
In Germany, the last name Reinholz is commonly found in states like Brandenburg and Berlin. This is likely due to the fact that the name appears numerous times in church records for those areas. In Austria, the Reinholz name can be found in the towns of Neustift im Stubaital and Schrobenhausen. In Switzerland, the name is most abundantly found in the Canton of Glarus.
In the United States, the last name Reinholz is common in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and New Jersey. Additionally, some concentration of the name can be found in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California.
When searching for records of the Reinholz name, it's also important to keep in mind that international spelling variations can be common, with Reinholtz, Reinholts, and Reinholds being some of the more frequent variations.
Variations of the surname Reinholz
The surname Reinholz is thought to be of German origin, although it also has Polish variations. The German variant is primarily spelled Reinholz, and other spellings include Reinhold, Reinholdt, Reingolds, Reinholts, Reinholds, Reinholcz, Reynhalt, and Rienholz. The Polish variant is Rejnholz.
The earliest recorded occurrence of the surname is likely Johann Melchior Reinholz, born around 1672 in Germany. He was the son of Mayor Hans Reinholz and his wife Elenora, who were from Rothemberg, Germany. The earliest recorded occurrence of the Polish variant is in the 18th century, when Dukla Bendkowski, born around 1770, adopted the surname Rejnholz.
Other variations of the surname Reinholz include Rhinhold, Reinholter, Rinholt, Rienhold, Rinehardt, Rineholt, Ranholtz, Reinholtze, Reinheart, Reinhart, Reinehart, Reinehardt, Reinhalter, Reynolds, Reihl, and Reinhartz.
The surname Reinholz is found in various parts of Europe, including Germany, Poland, and Austria. In the United States, the surname is found primarily in Pennsylvania, where many German-speaking immigrants settled in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Reinholz families in the United States can trace their origins back to Germany, Poland, or Austria.
Famous people with the name Reinholz
- Jenny Reinholz- a German musician
- Bronislau Reinholz- a Polish sculptor
- Eric Reinholz- a German architect
- Fred Reinholz- an American football player
- Gaby Reinholz- a German actress
- Hans Reinholz- a German politician
- Howard Reinholz- an American physicist
- Joachim Reinholz- a German composer
- Klaus Reinholz- a German footballer
- Kurt Reinholz- a German composer
- Wilhelm Reinholz- a German clergyman
- Ernst Reinholz- a German opera singer
- Egon Reinholz- a German wrestler
- Axel Reinholz- a German physicist
- Arnold Reinholz- a German athlete
- Eva Reinholz- a German opera singer
- Ralf Reinholz- a German jurist
- Gerd Reinholz- a German television presenter
- Ulla Reinholz- a German swimmer
- Sebastian Reinholz- a German swimmer