Surname Reiffenstuel - Meaning and Origin
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Reiffenstuel: What does the surname Reiffenstuel mean?
The last name Reiffenstuel is of German origin and means “one of rf” or “ruling family.” The suffix “stuel” is believed to reference a “dwelling” or “family estate.” Therefore, the name would be interpreted as “One of the rf, ruling family estate.”
The Reiffenstuel surname is most commonly found in the Bolanden-Gientz district in Germany, as well as in Pennsylvania, the United States. It is likely this surname was brought to America by immigrants from the district in Germany.
The Reiffenstuel surname is believed to have originated with a noble family or families with a powerful political influence in their respective region. The “rf” part of the name may reference a word meaning “public announcement” and suggests the Reiffenstuel family was an influential and respected group in the area they resided.
The full version of Reiffenstuel is Reiffenstuel-Bechtold and suggests this surname was likely taken on by families who intermarried within a high social class or a powerful political family.
If you’re interested in learning more about your surname, research your family tree, contact local archives, or visit local libraries. You can also look up Reiffenstuel in the online family tree databases to see if any relatives are listed. Through research, you can uncover the history of your name, where your family came from, and the stories and traditions that make up the history of your surname.
Order DNA origin analysisReiffenstuel: Where does the name Reiffenstuel come from?
The last name Reiffenstuel is most commonly found in Luxemburg, Germany, and France. In Luxemburg, Reiffenstuel is the 83rd most common name and there are over 1,200 people who bear the name today. In Germany, Reiffenstuel is the 6,259th most common name and there are around 250-500 people who have this name. In France, Reiffenstuel is the 23,622nd most common name and there are an estimated 150-300 people who have retained that name.
The roots of Reiffenstuel are most likely German. However, there is also speculation that the name originated in France. According to some records, a man named Joannes Reiffenstuel was mentioned in the Swiss village of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, France in 1662.
The spread of the name Reiffenstuel is likely due to the process of migration in the 18th century. Specifically, people from Luxemburg, Germany, and France most likely relocated to Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and other parts of France. As a result, the Reiffenstuel name likely spread to other parts of Europe too.
Today, the Reiffenstuel family name is still prevalent in Luxembourg, Germany, France, and other parts of Europe. Some Reiffenstuels have even crossed to the United States and Canada to start new lives. Although Reiffenstuel is not an incredibly common name, it still endures and many of its original bearers remain proud of this family name.
Variations of the surname Reiffenstuel
The surname Reiffenstuel is derived from the German name Riefenstuhl, which is composed of two words meaning "cleaved" and "stool". The surname may have originated as a nickname referring to someone who was either a master carpenter or a type of carpenter who specialized in making seats. It can also have a descriptive reference to someone with a wooden leg, or with distinctive gait.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Reiffenstuel include Reifenstuhl, Riefenstuhl, Riffenstuhl, Refenstuhl, Rifenstuhl, Riffenstuhl, Refenstahl, Rifenstahl, Riffenstahl, Refensthal, Rifensthal, Riffensthal and more. Some surnames that are descended from Reiffenstuel are Reyffenstuhl, Riffenstiehl, Riffenstein, Reiffenstein, Reyffenstein, Rafeinstein, Reinfeinstein and Reinfeinstahl.
Also, some variants of the surname may have developed from transcription errors and other typographical mistakes in official documents, resulting in variations in the spelling such as Rieffenstule, Reffenstein, Reiffentstuel, Reiffenstein, Riefenstule, Reichfenstule and Richfenstule.
Famous people with the name Reiffenstuel
- Ragnar Reiffenstuel, Norwegian politician
- Margit Reiffenstuel, Austrian film maker and music composer
- Christopher Reiffenstuel, American architect
- Tony Reiffenstuel, American film producer
- Corinne Reiffenstuel, American author
- Alan Reiffenstuel, Swiss watchmaker
- Elisabeth Reiffenstuel, Austrian artist
- Erich Reiffenstuel, German businessman
- Barbara Reiffenstuel, German politician
- Christoph Reiffenstuel, Austrian conductor and music arranger