Surname Reifrath - Meaning and Origin
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Reifrath: What does the surname Reifrath mean?
The last name Reifrath is an old German name which likely originated from a place with the same name. The name actually means 'ridge path', from two German words - 'Reif' meaning ridge and 'rath' meaning path. It is believed the place Reifrath was likely on a ridge or an upland path. To make matters more confusing, there are other places with names similar to this one which also have origins in Old German and can mean different variants of 'ridge path'. Examples include Riefrath, Reiffrath, Reifrath and Reiffert.
Today, the surname is predominantly found in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, as well as some other countries. It is also found in the US, and it is likely that the name originated with German immigrants who came to the country in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Overall, the surname Reifrath has its origins in an old German place which was likely on a ridge or an upland path during the Middle Ages. It is still quite common in Germany and some other countries today, and is likely to have originated with German immigrants to the US.
Order DNA origin analysisReifrath: Where does the name Reifrath come from?
The last name Reifrath is most common in Germany, particularly in the northern and western regions of the country. According to the website Verwandt.de, the last name Reifrath was found most frequently in the counties of Osnabruck, Munster, Land Weil, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Stendal. Searching for the last name on genealogical websites such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, it can be seen that the last name Reifrath is largely concentrated in German states and cities, such as Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Hesse, and Saxony.
The last name Reifrath, however, is not only found in Germany. It is also seen in France, Poland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. This data can be found on several genealogical websites, such as public census records and birth, marriage, and death records.
As a result of migration and world events, the last name Reifrath is likely to continue to spread around the world. Though it is still most common in Germany, it is possible to find it in most countries of the world.
Variations of the surname Reifrath
The surname Reifrath is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the personal name Reiff, meaning 'wolf'. Variants of this name include Rief, Riefer, Reiff, Reiffer, Reifer, Reiffenberg, Reifrath, Riefenroth, Ryffes, Ryfes, Rüffes, Ruffes and Ruffert.
Reiff is the earliest recorded form of the Reifrath surname and was used around the mid-13th century in Germany. This name was eventually shortened to Reff and Reif. The variant Reiffer was also used in the same period and initially represented a distinguishing nickname for a person resembling a wolf. Surnames that evolved from the use of the personal name Reiff include those ending in -roth, meaning 'red', such as Reiffenberg, Riefenroth and Reifrath.
Other variations of the Reifrath surname include Rief, which first appeared in the mid-15th century in Germany and was most often used to describe someone who was disobedient or unruly; Ryffes, which was used in the late 17th century; Rüffes, also used in the late 17th century; and Ruffes and Ruffert, which were popularized in the early 19th century.
Overall, the surname Reifrath has a variety of spellings and derivatives, all of which are derived from the Middle Ages personal name Reiff, meaning 'wolf'.
Famous people with the name Reifrath
- Gunther Reifrath, a German rower who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics
- Christopher Reifrath, an American soccer player who left his mark in Major League Soccer
- Kenny Reifrath, an American professional snowboarder who competed in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics
- Kelly Reifrath, an American TV producer and actor
- Jeff Reifrath, an American former professional baseball player
- Max Reifrath, an American professional drummer from Philadelphia, PA
- Brad Reifrath, a Canadian hockey player who plays for the Utah Grizzlies
- Rich Reifrath, a former Major League Soccer and American professional soccer player
- Luanne Reifrath, an American neurosurgeon
- Johnny Reifrath, an American Major League Baseball pitcher