Surname Reicholt - Meaning and Origin
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Reicholt: What does the surname Reicholt mean?
The last name Reicholt is a German surname, which means “rich guardian”. This name dates back to medieval times and it was used to denote those who held a position of authority and were left in charge of an area—specifically, a Reich, which is a term derived from the Latin regalis, meaning “of a king”. These people would have been guards, overseers, or sheriffs in charge of protecting, maintaining, and enforcing laws within that region, possibly answering directly to a lord or king.
The name can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Swedish, and the Netherlands. In some cases, it has been spelled as Reichhold, Reichholtz, Reichheld, Reichoeltz, and Reichel.
What’s interesting about the name is that it contains elements of both wealth and stability. It is not simply associated with being a “guard”, but with someone who is trusted to oversee and protect a certain area, with their wealth and authority being used for its benefit. It is therefore possible that the owner of the name was considered a respected individual, trusted to handle important tasks and oversee important areas.
Order DNA origin analysisReicholt: Where does the name Reicholt come from?
The last name Reicholt is most commonly found in Germany, and it is derived from the German word "Reich," which means "imperial" or "mighty." Historically, Reicholt was a surname given to people of noble descent, with records of the name stretching back to the 13th century.
Today, the name Reicholt remains popular in countries that were part of the German Empire such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It can also be seen in countries that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, such as Hungary, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Additionally, many people with the Reicholt surname immigrated to countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and the name is still seen in those countries today.
The Reicholt surname can be found in records of prominent families throughout Europe, and it often appears in the form of titles or nobles. For example, one member of the Reicholt family was a castellan of Brunn in 1467. In France, there is an extinct noble family named Reicholt de Neuville, and a number of German castles still bear the name Reicholt.
In the modern day, the surname Reicholt is often seen in records of genealogists and distinctively German names, and it is still a popular surname among German citizens.
Variations of the surname Reicholt
The surname Reicholt is an occupational name from Germany. It is derived from the Germanic word reich, meaning powerful or rich, and walt, meaning rule. The Reicholt name is found in various variants in different countries, including Rheingold and Ryngold in Germany, Régulski in Poland, and Reenóld and Ryngoud in the Netherlands.
In Germany, the variants of Reicholt include Rheigold, Rehegold, Rehgold, Reegold, Reiegold, Reihgold, Reingold, Ryngold, Räihgold, Reihgölt, Reingolt, Reingoldt, Reichgolt, Reichgolds, Reichgoldt, and Reichgoltz.
In the United States, the spelling has mainly remained the same, although some variation can also be seen. There are also some surnames that appear to have been misheard or mispronounced in North America, including Reichow, Recko, Reeck, Reigenold, Reegehold, Reichohlt, Reinhold, Renholt, and Reigholdt.
In the Netherlands, the variants of Reicholt include Reenóld, Ryngoud, Ringold, and Reyngoud. In Poland, the variants are Régulski, Regulska, Ragulska, Regulski, and Reigulski. Other forms of the name found in Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands include Reyngolt, Rehgolt, and Regoold.
In conclusion, the surname Reicholt has various spelling and surnames variants in different countries, with slight variations depending on the language.
Famous people with the name Reicholt
- Betty Reicholt: known for her role in the television drama, Dologittin (2008).
- John Reicholt: Olympic swimmer and gold medal winner at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Olga Reicholt: esteemed Austrian-American historian and author of several books on Austrian and German history.
- Wilhelm Reicholt: composer of 19th century classical works.
- Ludwig Reicholt: German professor of philosophy and political activist.
- Roberta Reicholt: professional French horn player in several symphony orchestras.
- Arno Reicholt: Czech-German-Austrian conductor and composer of classical music.
- Charlie Reicholt: American screenwriter and film producer, most notably for his work on auxiliary motion pictures.
- Gert Reicholt: professional operatic bass who sang with the Leipzig Opera House for over 25 years.
- Sarah Reicholt: German-American jewelry maker and entrepreneur.