Surname Riess - Meaning and Origin
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Riess: What does the surname Riess mean?
The surname Riess is of German origin and is a variant of the surname "Reis" or "Reiss". This surname was often given to individuals who lived in swampy or low-lying areas, as it derives from the Middle High German term "riese", which means "giant" or "strong". It might literally denote someone who lived in a marshy area or metaphorically could refer to a strong, powerful, or perhaps tall person. As surnames were sometimes taken from geographical features or personal characteristics, this meaning is plausible. Besides, it could also be a patronymic surname, originating from the Hebrew personal name 'Urias', meaning 'God is my light'.
Some suggest the surname could also relate to a nickname for a disruptive or argumentative person, deriving from the Middle High German "risan", meaning "to cause a disturbance".
Being a fairly common surname, the interpretation of "Riess" can vary in different contexts and regions. Remember that the understanding and interpretation of surnames can often be speculative without concrete historical data to confirm the theories.
Order DNA origin analysisRiess: Where does the name Riess come from?
Riess is a surname which is commonly found in Germany today. The name has been around since at least the 1600s and is derived from the German word "riese" which means giant. The family name is found mostly in the area surrounding the Rhine River in southwestern Germany and in the east of Bavaria. There are also some scattered families in Austria, Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia.
In America, the name has been found since the arrival of German immigrants in the 1700s. The Riess family and its variants are still common in the US especially in the Midwestern states such as Illinois and Wisconsin which are known to have a high population of German Americans.
Riess is also a common family name in countries with a significant German diaspora such as Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. In South Africa, there are large communities of German-speaking people, and the Riess family name can be found among them.
In recent decades, the name has become quite rare in the area of its origin in Germany, due to emigration from the country. In spite of this, there are still descended families of the Riess family name living in Germany and other countries today and the legacy of the name is passed on to its new generations.
Variations of the surname Riess
The surname Riess has several variant spellings, surnames and origins. Here are some of the more common variants:
Ries - Derived from Middle High German (MHG) ‘riz’ meaning ‘clearing’ or ‘opening’, this is the German origin form of the surname.
Rieß - This is an alternate spelling of the German version, and is most popular in regions of Germany such as Bavaria.
Reiss - This is a variation of the surname that is derived from the Dutch word ‘reys’, meaning journey or voyage.
Reece - This is the most common variant of the surname in the English-speaking world, and is usually derived from the Middle English word ‘rec’, meaning ‘rush’ or ‘grass’.
Reese - This is an alternate version of the English spelling, and is common throughout the world.
Rees - This is a Welsh version of the surname, derived from ‘reisc’, meaning ‘fox’ in Welsh.
Rhees - Another form of the Welsh origin of the surname.
Rise - This version is derived from Old Norse ‘ris’, meaning brushwood.
Risey - This variant spelling is more common in regions of France.
Risee - Like Risey, this variant is seen most often in French regions.
Risea - This variant of the surname is derived from French rise, meaning pike.
In summary, the surname Riess has numerous spellings and variants, and different origins in different languages. Common variants of the surname are Ries, Rieß, Reiss, Reece, Reese, Rees, Rhees, Rise, Risey, Risee and Risea.
Famous people with the name Riess
- Gunther Riess: German-Austrian Wehrmacht General.
- Paul Riess: German historian and educator.
- Rudy Riess: American politician and TV presenter.
- Ray Riess: American actor and director.
- Holly Riess: American actress.
- Stefan Riess: German road cyclist.
- John Riess: American professional basketball coach.
- Robert Riess: American professional ice hockey coach.
- Arthur Riess: German explorer and scientist.
- Harry Riess: German manager and entrepreneur.
- Gerhard Riess: German engineer and automaker.
- Hanne Riess: Danish artist and painter.
- Stephen Riess: American historian and baseball researcher.
- Andrew Riess: British entrepreneur and technology innovator.
- Alicia Riess: Australian politician and disability advocate.
- Greg Riess: American professional golfer.
- Eberhard Riess: German astronomer and physicist.
- Ray Riess: American music executive.
- William Riess: American historical physicist and geologist.
- George Riess: American historian and writer.