Surname Reusse - Meaning and Origin

Reusse: What does the surname Reusse mean?

The last name Reusse is a German occupational surname derived from the old Middle German word "rus" which means "free servant". The surname was initially used to describe someone who served as a servant to a lord or other high ranking member of society. In some cases, the surname might also have been adopted to indicate someone who was employed by a castle, manor, or estate.

In the modern day, the surname Reusse is common in German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It is also present in German-speaking areas of the United States and Canada.

The name Reusse is believed to have been derived from the trade in red dyes during the Middle Ages. The word “rus” or “roose” refers to the red ochre dye discovered by miners at a place called Rossen in Lorraine, France. When the miners first started producing and selling the dye, they would have been known as “rusiers” or “roosers” - a name which was eventually shortened to “Reusse”.

Today, the name Reusse is quite common and can be found in many communities throughout the world. Those who carry the name can take pride in its long and unique history.

Reusse: Where does the name Reusse come from?

The last name Reusse is common in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is a very old and established last name that has been used for centuries. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "rots", which means "red". It is an occupational name associated with people who dyed or stained cloth in red, a profession that was held in high esteem in the Middle Ages.

Reusse is a widely used last name in Germany today. Records from the central statistical office of Germany in 1998 indicated that approximately 20,000 people living in Germany bear the Reusse surname. The majority of individuals with this last name are concentrated in the northern and western parts of the country.

Outside of Germany, the name is popular in other parts of Europe such as the Low Countries, in particular the Netherlands. Records from 2018 indicated that there are roughly 8,400 Dutch citizens who share the Reusse name.

The name is also present in Spain, Switzerland, and France, to varying degrees. In the United States, the Reusse name is present, but less common. Census reports from 2020 estimate that there are roughly 5,000 people living in the US who bear the name Reusse.

In summary, the Reusse last name is especially common in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is also present, albeit less frequently, in the United States.

Variations of the surname Reusse

The surname Reusse is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle High German ruoz, meaning "red" or "ruddy." This surname has multiple variant spellings, including: Reuse, Ruess, and Reusche. These surnames are usually found with various endings, indicating the area of Germany where the family was from. Common endings are: -mann, meaning "man"; -lein, meaning "little"; or -ner, meaning "one from."

In the United States, the surname is also commonly found seen spelled as Reuss, Reese, and Reeves. This is likely due to immigration and Anglicisation of the name, as well as the adoption of the spelling as an anglicised thing to avoid anti-German feeling. It's also possible that some forms were adopted by more than one family unit or as a way of distinguishing between families.

Several hyphenated surnames are also derived from Reusse, including Reusse-Mann and Reusse-lein. These are usually composed of the Mainz-Koblenz area of Germany. A few double-barrelled surnames derived from Reusse are Reusse-Miller and Reusse-Hoffman, which can be found in areas of the German states of Bavaria, Prussia, and Austria.

People with the Reusse surname can also look for variations under other countries, as the surname can be found in countries like France (la Reusse), Belgium (le Reusse), Denmark (Reuss), Switzerland (Reusse, Reusser, Reuscher).

Many variations and spellings of the Reusse surname can be found all over the world, each with their own unique history. Tracking down the origins of your ancestors with a surname like Reusse can take some detective work.

Famous people with the name Reusse

• Marco Reus: Marco Reus is a professional German footballer who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in Europe and has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
• Ed Reuss: Ed Reuss was an American football player who played for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977.
• Joe Reuss: Joe Reuss was a professional baseball player who played for the Boston Braves, St. Louis Browns, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. He was a key member of the Boston Braves' 1935 World Series championship team.
• Wilbur Reus: Wilbur Reus was a professional ice hockey player who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 1938 and 1939.
• Jane Reus: Jane Reus is an American author whose books include Our Fair City, Land beyond the Clouds, and All I See are Promises. She was awarded the Society of American Museums' Museum Leadership Award in 2017.
• Donald Reuss: Donald Reuss was an American Lutheran pastor who wrote numerous books on the subject of Christian theology. He was a professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Other surnames

ReussReussner