Surname Reifhardt - Meaning and Origin
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Reifhardt: What does the surname Reifhardt mean?
The last name Reifhardt is a German topographic surname that is derived from a combination of two words. The first part, 'Reif' is of German origin and likely refers to either a person of great intelligence or one who is eager to learn, while the second part of the name, 'Hartz', means 'hardy', 'resolute', or 'strong'. Combined, the last name Reifhardt could refer to a person of great strength of mind and knowledge.
Throughout Germanic history, many people have taken on surnames that reflect their family's lands, occupations, or physical characteristics. As a result, the last name Reifhardt could have been used to honor a particularly strong-minded or intelligent member of the family, or to emphasize the unbending determination required of a specific occupation. Over the centuries, this surname has no doubt been passed down through the generations, and today there are many people with the family name Reifhardt.
As with other Germanic surnames, the last name Reifhardt has seen many variants, including Reifhard, Reiffhartz, Reiffart, and Reiffardt, some of which are still used today. Despite the variations, however, the surnames all share one important element—the German words ‘Reif’ and ‘Hartz’—and today they are all still associated with strong-minded, intelligent individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisReifhardt: Where does the name Reifhardt come from?
The last name Reifhardt is found in various parts of the world today, mainly in Europe and parts the United States.
In Europe, the Reifhardt name is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. In Germany, records dating back to the 1600s show that Reifhardt families were living in the states of Bavaria, Baden and Thuringia in the south, as well as in the states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the north. In Austria, the Reifhardt name is found mainly in Vienna and the state of Tyrol.
In the United States, the name is mainly found in the east. Reifhardt families are scattered across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio. The earliest records of Reifhardt families in the United States date back to the 1800s, when immigrants began settling mainly in the east.
In recent years, the Reifhardt name has become more rare as families move and settle in different parts of the world. The last name Reifhardt is quickly disappearing from records and public registries all over the world.
Variations of the surname Reifhardt
Reifhardt is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German name "Rifard". It is also seen spelled as Reifhard, Reifhardt, Reiffhart, Reifert, Reiffard, Reiffert, and Rifard. The name is thought to be a combination of two words: "Rif" meaning "powerful" or "mighty" and "Hart" meaning "brave".
The surname is found mainly in Germany and Austria with some isolated occurrences in the U.S.A., the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium.
One of the more prominent bearers of this surname is legendary German chess grandmaster Robert Reifhardt, born in 1947. Reifhardt has achieved remarkable success in tournaments and has held the title of grandmaster since 1974. His brother, Thomas Reifhardt, was also an accomplished chess player having achieved the title of master in 1988.
The family name Reifhardt has been used widely throughout history. In 1467, Johannes Reifert was among the first families that settled in the small town of Regen in Bavaria, Germany. By the mid-1600's, the families of Reifert, Reiffert, and Reifhard lived in the Christian city of Schmiedlhofen in Franconia.
Today, one can find the family name Reifhardt but also all of its various spellings scattered across Europe in countries such as Germany, Austria, France, Holland, and Switzerland.
In short, Reifhardt is a German and Austrian surname that has many variants, such as Reifhard, Reifhardt, Reiffhart, Reifert, Reiffard, Reiffert, and Rifard. The origin of the name dates back to the Middle High German name "Rifard" which is a combination of two words which roughly translate to "mighty" and "brave". The most prominent bearers of the name is chess grandmaster Robert Reifhardt and his brother Thomas Reifhart who also achieved success in the game. Nowadays, the name is widely found in several European countries, however mainly in Germany, Austria, France, Holland, and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Reifhardt
- Cheryl Reifhardt: American marketing executive
- Chuck Reifert: former pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Doug Reifhardt: retired professional football player for the USFL
- Frank Reifert: US Army lieutenant general
- Linda Reifenhäuser: German singer and composer
- Mark Reif: former American football player
- Mike Reif: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Peter Reif: German botanist
- Rick Reif: baseball player and coach
- Robert Charles Riefert: Medal of Honor recipient
- Rosie Reif: Spanish singer
- Sonai Reif: Israel-born healthcare and nutrition advocate