Surname Reissel - Meaning and Origin
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Reissel: What does the surname Reissel mean?
The last name Reissel is a Germanic name, often thought to derive from either the German word "reissen", meaning "to tear", or the Germanic word " riesen", meaning "giant". As such, depending on the specific origin, the surname Reissel can be thought to refer to either strength, as in a person who was formidable or violent, or size, as in a person who was physically impressively tall and imposing.
In records dating from the earliest mention of Reissel, in 1339, it was often used to refer to landed aristocrats who were able to draw taxes from farmlands in Bavaria, so this was likely the origin of the surname at that time.
The Reissels of today are likely largely descended from these aristocracy, and so the name carries with it a long history and a proud legacy. It is now most commonly found in the United States, though it is also found in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Within the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York, particularly in regions with a large population of German ancestry. As such, its meaning may have been lost over the years, but some Reissels may nevertheless take pride in the rich history and long-standing legacy that comes with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisReissel: Where does the name Reissel come from?
The last name Reissel is of German/Flemish origin, and is most common in German speaking countries.
In Germany, most people with the name Reissel can be found in the western and central states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony. In terms of numbers, it is most popular in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In Austria, most Reissel’s can be found in Vienna, the capital, and the western state of Tyrol.
The name is also common in Switzerland, mainly in the German-speaking cantons such as Zurich, Aargau, Basel-Country and Solothurn.
In United States, the last name Reissel is most common in region of Texas, from where it spread to the rest of the American states. Other countries where it is found in small numbers include Canada, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
In general, the name has a strong presence in German-speaking countries and shows a significant distribution in be countries with a German-speaking ex-pat community.
Variations of the surname Reissel
The surname Reissel is of German origin and can be spelled Reesel, Reessell, Ressel, and Reßel. Variations include Riesel, Reisel, Riesel, Riessel, Risel, Rissel, and Reissl. In some cases the surname may be found combined with the suffixes -mann or -berg.
Riesel and Rissel are typical of the Rhineland area in Germany. Reisel likely originates from Bohemia. Reesel and Reessell are common mainly in South Germany. Reßel is a variant mainly found in Bavaria.
Variant spellings are often encountered when looking for records of ancestors from Germany. Immigrants to America from Germany often changed their surname spellings on arrival, introducing a new set of spellings further confusing the matter.
Surnames with a similar origin, or a similar sound, have a tendency to merge over time, with one form becoming dominant. That is the case with the surnames Reissel, Riesel and Rissel. Surnames with the letter combination 'sel' stemming from 'selo', meaning a small village, have spread all over Germany with considerable regional concentrations.
Other surnames related to Reissel are Reissl, Reisser, Reusser or Rieser. The first two are German, while the latter two can be found both in German-speaking and French-speaking areas.
There are also German-Jewish and Ashkenazi versions of some of the Reissel surnames, which include Raysel, Raisel, Refsel, Refsell, and Reisel.
Famous people with the name Reissel
- Bruno Reissel: a Portuguese actor who has appeared in a number of television series and films.
- Johann Reissel: a painter and a book illustrator from Austria.
- John Reissel: an American cinematographer best-known for his work on the movies such as Speed, The Matrix and The Wolverine.
- Peter Reissel: a German engraver and publisher known for his illustrations and books of popular stories.
- Paul Reissel: a German philologist and folklorist who is noted for his work on Middle High German and Low German dialects.
- Ferdi Reissel: a Dutch football coach and former professional footballer.
- Jan Reissel: a 19th-century German composer known for his overtures and operas.
- Marcel Reissel: a French football player, most renowned as the goalkeeper of Stade de Reims during the 1950s.
- Rudy Reissel: an American professional baseball player who played mainly at the shortstop position.
- Helmut Reissel: a German alpine skier who competed in the 1953 World Championships.