Surname Rieber - Meaning and Origin
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Rieber: What does the surname Rieber mean?
The surname Rieber is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "riobere" which means “a rare precious metal”. Over time, this surname has been passed down through many generations as families moved from one area to the next.
The Riebers trace their lineage to various areas, including Bavaria, Lower Silesia, and Posen. Those from Bavaria were originally farmers while those from Lower Silesia and Posen worked in traditional trades, such as tinsmiths and brewers.
Throughout Germany, Rieber is a common name, belonging to many families who are bound by their shared ancestry and heritage. Records of the name indicate that members of the family have served in various military and governmental positions across the centuries.
Today, Rieber is a widely-used last name in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries. Like many other surnames, it is often a sign of a strong identity and shared background. People who bear this name are proud of their German heritage and celebrate the extraordinary history their family has made over the years.
Order DNA origin analysisRieber: Where does the name Rieber come from?
The last name Rieber is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is a German surname derived from the old German word for the strong one and is found most often in the northern regions of Germany.
Rieber is a relatively uncommon name, but it is not unheard of in other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It is also found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, where members of the Rieber family have immigrated.
Given its German origin, the most likely source of this surname is the old German city of Riebe, which is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Early records of the name go back to this area, including mention of Hermann der Riebesen in 1333 and Johan Rieber in 1381.
A survey of telephone directories in Germany revealed some 4,883 persons living with the surname Rieber, with more than half of them living in the northern states of Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein.
The name Rieber is less widely found outside of Germany but can trace its origins back to Germany. Its continued presence today is testimony to the timelessness of the German language and culture, which has been a part of the Rieber family's life for centuries.
Variations of the surname Rieber
The surname Rieber has several variants and spellings, all of which share the same origin. These variants include Rybauer, Ryba, Ryback, Rieberer and Ribare.
The surname Rieber is of German origin and was often used as an occupational surname for a farmer or a peasant farmer. The surname originated in the Middle Ages and the meaning of the name could be derived from the German words "ric," which means 'strong' and "beraht," which means 'bright.' It is also suggested that the first bearer of the name could have either been employed as a bailiff of a reaper in the fields, or an overseer who delivered harvested grain to a storage facility.
The surname Rieber is found in various regional spelling forms such as Rybokers, Ribeckers, and Riebeckers in central and western Germany. In Austria, the surname is written as Rieberer.
Other variants of the surname Rieber include Rybacki, Rybak, Rybakov, Rybakovas, Rybinsky, Rybka, Rybar, Rybarczyk, and Rybarski. In Hungary, the surname is sometimes written as Ryback.
In the United States, the surname Rieber is often recorded as Riber or Rieber. In Russia, the surname is sometimes written as Ribar and Rybarikov. In Poland, the surname is occasionally written as Rybka or Ryba.
Overall, the surname Rieber has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, many of which have adapted and evolved over centuries, with different spellings in various countries and regions around the world.
Famous people with the name Rieber
- Dave Rieber (American saxophonist and composer)
- Al Rieber (successful businessman and owner of Al Rieber Music)
- Gustavo Rieber (Brazilian MMA fighter)
- Ted Rieber (writer and producer)
- Christian Rieber (German entrepreneur and co-founder of HelloFresh)
- George Rieber (American politician)
- Helge Rieber (Norwegian civil servant)
- Maurice Rieber (American political scientist and professor)
- Piotr Rieber (Polish artist)
- Jens Rieber (German actor)
- Volker Rieber (German sculptor and graphic artist)
- Clifford Rieber (Australian plant ecologist and conservationist)
- Derek Rieber (English singer)
- Martin Rieber (German journalist and author)
- Harald Rieber (Austrian doctor and academic researcher)
- Robert Rieber (American psychologist)
- Alexander Rieber (Austrian conductor)
- Karl-Rudolf Rieber (Swiss classical music arranger and composer)
- Ludwig Rieber (German economist)
- Johannes Rieber (German economist and professor)