Surname Reifl - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Reifl: What does the surname Reifl mean?
The surname Reifl is of German and Scandinavian origin. In German, the name can be derived from the Middle High German word "Revel" meaning "reed" or "reroll". In Scandinavia, the name may trace ancestry to a South Germanic tribal settlement known as "Reifill" and derived from the Old Norse "reifi" meaning "redemption" or "redeemed".
The name Reifl first appears in written records in the 12th century in Germany. In some areas, Reifls were recorded as early as the 10th century in Scandinavian countries.
During the Middle Ages, Reifl was mostly found in areas populated by Germanic and Scandinavian families, mainly in Northern Germany and Sweden. It later spread to the rest of Germany and Northern Europe during the 17th century as more families migrated in search of better working and living conditions. Over the past centuries, Reifl has been recorded in various church and census records throughout Europe.
In modern times, descendants of the Reifl family can be found in many countries, including Germany, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. The name is still relatively rare, however, compared to other surnames with similar ancestors.
The surname Reifl is thought to be a symbol of strength, hard work, and loyalty. Over the centuries, members of the Reifl family have made significant contributions to their local communities, countries, and the world.
Order DNA origin analysisReifl: Where does the name Reifl come from?
The last name Reifl is difficult to trace within contemporary records, as it is not a very common name today. However, it appears to be of German origin, and has a presence in parts of Western Europe.
The Regional Database of surnames for Western-Central Europe indicates that Reifl is most common in Austria, where it evolved into several dialect-specific spellings of the same name. According to the database, it is also found in Germany,Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and areas of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, which would include areas of present-day Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
The surname Reifl does not appear in the US Social Security Death Index or US censuses for the past 40 years, indicating that it is extremely rare in America.
As it is quite an uncommon last name, it is difficult to establish a definite origin of the name. It is possible that bearers of the name originated from one of the German-speaking regions of Europe, or migrated from elsewhere during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Reifl
Reifl is a Germanic surname. It is the variant of the German Reifel, Reiffel, Reifel and Reifell. All of these have the same origin and all forms are derived from Reif, which itself is derived from the Middle High German word “Reif” meaning “rod”. It is likely a reference to a family who held a title of nobility, and the name was likely adopted from their coat of arms.
The variants or spelling of Reifl are fairly varied, but the surnames are generally more consistent. The surnames derived from Reifl typically include: Reiffel, Reifel, Rieffel, Riffely, Ryffel, Ryffly, Reichl, Rychl, Reicht, Richt, Riche, Rixt, Rixtel, Riichlé, Ryt and Rytter.
Reifl is also an uncommon first name, likely adapted from the surname. It is most commonly found in western European countries and it is believed to be a reference to the Germanic characteristics of loyalty, steadfastness and loyalty to the family. It is also sometimes spelled Reifle and Reiffle, but they all originate from the same source.
In some countries, such as the United States, the name Reifl is changed to Rayfield or Reyfield. In other countries, such as Sweden, the name is sometimes changed to Rajf or Rajfel.
Overall, the surname Reifl is a Germanic surname with many variations in spelling. However, all of these variations ultimately stem from the same source and bear the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Reifl
- Bob Reifl: American film editor and executive
- Maria Reifl: Austrian-American opera soprano
- Antoine Reifl: French art director and production designer
- Peter Reifl: Austrian-American neurologist
- Joseph Reifl: German actor
- Robert Reifl: German graphic artist and sculptor
- Paul Reifl: German astronomer and meteorologist
- Max Reifl: Austrian-American psychiatrist
- Stefan Reifl: Austrian-American visualization artist
- Marius Reifl: German artist