Surname Riechen - Meaning and Origin
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Riechen: What does the surname Riechen mean?
The last name Riechen is believed to be of German origin, though it also has roots in other German-speaking regions such as Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. The name is derived from the Old German word "rîk," meaning "rich," or "wealthy."
Historians believe that the original form of the name evolved throughout the years, eventually becoming Riechen. This evolution included variants such as Rychen, Rykhen, Ricken, Richen, and Riecker. It is assumed that this name was given to someone who was wealthy or prosperous.
The Riechen family was first documented in Baden-Württemberg in around the 17th century. Other regions with Riechen families include Alsace, Austria, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Prussia.
Riechen families could be found throughout Europe and in North America, particularly the United States, when families began to emigrate in search of better living conditions.
Today, the name "Riechen" is a common surname across Germany. It can also be found in other German-speaking countries, as well as in countries into which German immigrants migrated, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisRiechen: Where does the name Riechen come from?
Riechen is a German surname, which can be found mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is relatively uncommon outside of these countries, and the name does not appear in any US Census records. In Germany, it is most common in the states of Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg, with the highest percentages found in the Kroppen census district. In Austria, it is also mostly concentrated in the states of Vienna and Lower Austria. In Switzerland, the name is primarily found in Bern and Zurich, as well as the cities of Basel, Lausanne, and Geneva.
The name Riechen is thought to be derived from the Old Germanic name Rieh or Riuh, which was taken on by someone who lived near a meadow or in open country. It may also be related to the name Riegen—a place name often found in old German documents.
Today, individuals with the name Riechen still make up a small portion of the population in each of the aforementioned countries. It is still mostly concentrated in central Germany, but a few examples may be found in other areas of the world.
Variations of the surname Riechen
The surname Riechen is a German surname derived from the Middle High German “richin” meaning “to smell” or “to sniff.” This surname was typically found in the eastern region of Germany.
The variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin for Riechen include Richin, Reichin, Reich, Riech, Reighin, Reichel, Rychen, Riechan, Riichan, Rychon, Reichen, Reicher, Rieche, Rychoff, Rychert, Reiechen, Rychner, Rycher, Reichenbach, Reichensperger, and Reick.
Riechen is a patronymic surname, so some families using this surname may have adopted other surnames drawn from the same root. Such names include Richlinger, Richderson, Richson, Riesinger, Reichenow, Riichert, Reichenberger, Richterich, Reichelson, Richieson, Reichard, Riechelman, Reicherson, Reicherd, Reickman, etc.
Some of these variants have spread beyond Germany's borders and are now found in other countries like the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Immigrants carrying this surname also adopted new forms or spelling variations in their adopted countries, such as Reichman, Riechmann, Riechman, and Reichmann.
Although the spelling variations may be numerous, all of the surnames listed are believed to have the same root. They all ultimately indicate a distant ancestor that had a keen sense of smell, or someone that was associated with the act of smelling.
Famous people with the name Riechen
- Alexander von Rieneck, German politician.
- Mike Riechen, American professional baseball player.
- Wolfgang von Riechen, German aristocrat.
- Robert Rieneck, German composer.
- Johann Heinrich von Riechen, German nobleman.
- Barbara von Rieneck, German noblewoman.
- Carsten Lienenkämper, former German footballer.
- Enrico von Rieneck, German nobleman.
- Johann Christian Riechen, German orientalist.
- Erich August von Rieneck, German orientalist.
- Heinrich von Rieneck, German art historian.
- Christian von Rieneck, German priest.
- Karl von Rieneck, German diplomat.
- Max von Rieneck, German politician.
- Otto von Rieneck, Austrian politician.
- Rudolf von Rieneck, German nobleman.
- Salomon von Rieneck, German businessman.
- Paul Anton von Rieneck, German diplomat.
- Don Dominic Rieneck, German priest.
- Peter von Rieneck, German diplomat.