Surname Reizele - Meaning and Origin

Reizele: What does the surname Reizele mean?

The last name Reizele, also spelled Rezil, Reizel, Reizelle, Reizeles, Reizenshteyn and other variants, is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname of Yiddish origin. It is derived from the Yiddish word rizesn, which means ‘to course’ or ‘to graze.’ As such, it likely originated as a nickname for someone who tended livestock or was familiar with grazing animals.

The last name Reizele is associated with an entire Jewish family that emigrated from Przysucha, Poland in the late 19th century. The family was comprised of several generations of landed yeomanry, trading in wool and grain among other commodities. From Przysucha, the family spread out to major Jewish centers like England, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, the U.S. and elsewhere.

Throughout Jewish folk tradition and oral stories, it is believed that the Reizele family shared a unique connection to the Jewish faith and identity. Family members were said to have been particularly attuned to the nuances of the Torah, and some even took part in the enlightenment that took place in Eastern Europe at the turn of the 20th century. As a result, the name Reizele has come to connote a sense of ancestral wisdom, as well as a passion for knowledge and learning.

The surname is still common among Ashkenazi communities throughout the world, and its legacy continues to inspire both pride and respect. The Reizele family continues to be a source of strength, knowledge and inspiration for Jews and non-Jews alike.

Reizele: Where does the name Reizele come from?

The last name Reizele is most likely of German origin, and today, it is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and in some areas of Eastern Europe. It is believed that its bearers originated from a small village in the vicinity of the Czech-German border known as Reizle.

The Reizle community was first mentioned in records as early as the 16th century. Its members were involved in local trade, crafts, and agriculture. Subsequently, its population grew and the settlers formed several separate villages, becoming an independent periphery of Germany.

By the 19th century, the family had spread throughout the whole of Germany and some members had even immigrated to the US, Canada, and other European countries. It was particularly common among the Jewish German diaspora in the latter part of the century.

At present, the last name Reizele is found in many parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Poland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and the United States. Its largest population is concentrated around the former German-speaking areas of polish provinces, in the East of the country, as well as in Upper Silesia.

Variations of the surname Reizele

Reizele is a German surname derived from the word ‘Reiz’, meaning charm, charmful, attractive, and adornment. Variations of the surname include Reisz, Reis, Reiss, Reisl, Reiszy, Reisze, Reizle, Reizl, Reizly, and Reizlu.

A variant of the surname is Riesz, which is used in many countries in Europe including Germany, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. This version comes from the German Duchy of Silesia in the 1800s as it was the most common variant of the name. It was also adopted by Hungarian Jews as a surname choice, and Hungarian Jews living in Romania spell it Reizle.

The Czech spelling is Reízek, Reisek or Rezízek. Slovaks spell it Rezíz and in Italy it is spelled Reizel. In Poland, Rejzel or Rezzel is another variation of the name.

In the United States, where Reizele is common among Ashkenazi Jews, all of the surnames listed above are usually spelled phonetically. Some of the variants found in America may include Rice, Reis, Reiss, Reiz, Razl, Reazel, Reizley, Reiszly, Reizzy, Reesi and Reisly.

In some cases, the surname has also been shortened to variants such as Riz, Rizel, Ris and Risl.

Risele, Risely, Risezle and Ryzle are less common versions of the surname found in North America and other places around the world.

Famous people with the name Reizele

• Nikolaus Reizele: An Austrian-German illustrator and cartoonist.
• Glick Reizele: An American Singer-Songwriter.
• Reizele Ameisen: A Jewish-Polish Holocaust survivor and author.
• Barney Reizele: An American ice-skater and former president of Skating Union of America.
• Jonathan Reizele: A Yiddish dramatist and an advocate for the Yiddish theatre in the early 20th-century.
• Menachem Reizele: An Israeli political figure and former Labour Party leader.
• Tzvi Reizele: An American-Israeli composer of Hebrew sacred music.
• Ella Reizele: A South African media personality and television presenter.
• Tzipora Reizele: An Israeli singer and film actress.
• Alex Reizele: An American-Austrian Chess champion.

Other surnames

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