Surname Reichholt - Meaning and Origin
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Reichholt: What does the surname Reichholt mean?
The last name Reichholt is of German origin and is thought to have originated in the former kingdom of Bavaria. The name is composed of two elements, reich and holt, which translate roughly to rich and wood respectively. It is likely that the original bearer of this name had either a connection to the ownership of a forest, or a wealth of resources.
The literal translation of Reichholt can therefore be interpreted as meaning: one who was well off in terms of access to timber and woodland resources. This suggests the possibility of a thriving lumber industry in the ancestral homelands of those who today bear the name.
The Reichholt name could have been derived from the occupation of the original holder. In the medieval times, words such as “Reich” and “Holt” were used to denote upper classes of pine, larch and fir that were set aside for noblemen. Thus, the surname could be interpreted as literally meaning the “rich wood” which suggests the original bearer was someone of a high, respected standing.
In addition to a noble origin, the surname Reichholt could also have derived from a place-name. It is likely the place had a connection to a forest or abundance of land. Examples of this could include a settlement situated near a thick, lush woodland, or large holdings of timber-rich land.
No matter the origin, it’s clear the Reichholt surname has a strong connection to timber and land resources and hints at nobility or wealth.
Order DNA origin analysisReichholt: Where does the name Reichholt come from?
The last name Reichholt is most common today in Germany, particularly in the country’s northern region. Though the name is not as widespread as it was in the early 20th century, when nearly 50,000 people in Germany bore the surname, Reichholt still ranks among the 500 most common family names in the country.
Regional variations of the spelling include Reichel, Reichhalt, Reichelts, Reichels, Richel, Reichholz, and Riechel. Popular variants of the name in the United States include Reicholt, Reichhold, and Riechholt.
Those bearing the name are believed to have originated in the Rhine region of Germany. One possibility is that they came from a place name composed of two elements: the German “reich” meaning “country” and the Old German “holt” meaning “wooded area”. Alternately, the name may be derived from the Old German word “holat”, meaning “closed”.
Reichholts are found today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, and Australia—though far fewer bear the name in these countries now than in the past. People named Reichholt have been prominent in numerous fields, such as medicine, science, and local politics.
Variations of the surname Reichholt
Reichholt is a German surname derived from the word “Reich”, which in German means ‘rich’. The surname has various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These variants mostly pertain to differently spelled (or mis-spelled) variants of the original word or surname.
Variants of the Reichholt surname are Reichhold, Reicholt, Reichelt, Reichel, Reichle, Reehl ,Riehl, Richl, Raichel, Raichle and Reighlen. Spellings may also vary, such as Raehle, Raehlt, Raehltz, Reihlt, Reihlte, Raechel, Rechel, Reichhalt, Reichhaltz, and Reihel.
Its surnames of the same origin include Reichhart, Reichhardt, Reichharten, Reichart, Reichman, Reichmann, Rehman, Rehmann, Rehmen, Reiman, Reyman, Rayman and Reilman as well as variant spellings such as Rahemann, Reichhauer, Reinhard, Reinhardt, Rehmar, Rehmer and Reimann.
Thus, there are a wide variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin available for the Reichholt surname. They may even include other names, of Germanic or even other origins, which are to some extent related to or have a common origin with the Reichholt surname.
Famous people with the name Reichholt
- Gary Reichholt: A successful filmmaker, based in the UK. He has been making films since the early 1990s and gained critical success with the release of The Sound of Freedom.
- Danielle Reichholt: a model and actress, best known for her work in the Teen Wolf TV series.
- Pierre Reichholt: A former professional tennis player from Austria who achieved the highest worldwide ranking of 5 in the 70s.
- Marci Reichholt: An American author and musician, most widely known for her book Scandalous Desires which was made into a television movie.
- Jonathan Reichholt: A business executive based in Germany. He held the post of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at a leading marketing company before launching his own multifaceted business venture.
- Alfonzo Reichholt: A former NFL player who played for the Seattle Seahawks between 1998 and 2000.
- Leah Reichholt: An American singer-songwriter, most notable for her popularity on social media, with over three million followers.
- Radney Reichholt: A British poet, most well known for his epic “Nocturne”. His work has been compared to that of T.S. Eliot and Robert Frost.
- Allison Reichholt: A German TV and film actress, who has appeared in a number of German films and television shows.
- Eric Reichholt: An American politician currently serving on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was recently re-elected to a six-year term.