Surname Reifschläger - Meaning and Origin
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Reifschläger: What does the surname Reifschläger mean?
The surname Reifschläger is of German origin and is likely derived from a habitational name. Reif is an old German word meaning “field” or “meadow”, while the suffix schläger has multiple interpretations. It could be derived from the word schlagen (to strike) and refer to someone having a military engineering background, as they would have used hammers and axes to build fortifications. It could also refer to a toll-collector who received payment in exchange for the right to pass a river or bridge.
The first known record of the surname Reifschläger appears in the 15th century when Johann Reifschläger was mentioned in a tax document in Bavaria. A person with the last name Reifschläger is likely descended from a farmer who lived in a rural area near a meadow.
The surname Reifschläger can also be found in other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the United States of America. Many of these countries have seen a large number of German immigrants come over the years, bringing with them names from their homeland.
The Reifschlägers have a long and proud history in Germany and the countries in which they have settled. To this day, many descendants of the original German immigrants can be found living in these countries, proud of their ancestral background, and cherishing the name Reifschläger as part of their identity.
Order DNA origin analysisReifschläger: Where does the name Reifschläger come from?
The last name Reifschläger is most often found today primarily in parts of Germany. A cursory look at genealogical resources shows that the name originated in Germany and can still be found in regions like Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. It is also relatively common in countries with large German diaspora populations, including the United States, Australia, and Brazil.
The earliest traceable evidence of the name can be found in records from medieval-era Germany, when it was used by noble families in the Rhineland region. The first known bearer of the name is recorded as Heinrich Reifschläger, who lived in the city of Mainz near the year 1400. Over the next several centuries, the family spread to different regions of Germany and other parts of Europe.
In more recent times, emigration from Germany has caused the name to expand to other countries around the globe. It is now relatively common in parts of the Americas, especially in the United States, as well as other European nations like Austria and Switzerland.
Overall, the last name Reifschläger has a long history in Germany and has continued to spread to other parts of the world due to emigration. It is currently most common in parts of Germany, as well as the United States, Australia, and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Reifschläger
Reifschläger is a surname of German origin. This surname has numerous variants, spellings, and alternate surnames. The most common variants are Reifschlager, Reifschlaeger, Reifschlaegar, Reifschlager, and Reifslaeger.
Reifschläger has also been known to be spelled with numerous permutations of the letters like Reifschlegar, Reifschleger, Riefschlaeger, Riefschlaegar, Reifschelaegar, Reifschelager, Reifschlegeer. The alternate surnames are Rifschloger, Rifschloager, Rifschlaager, Riefschloager, and Riefschlager.
As is typical for surnames of Germanic origin, a variety of regional pronunciations exist. The pronunciation of Reifschläger varies between regions, ranging from REF-shlah-ga (rhymes with "broker") to REEF-shlah-ger.
Some of the variant or foreign spellings of the surname are Rifschlager, Reiffschlaeger, Reifschleger, Reifsschlaeger, Ryfsschlager, Refschlegar, Raifschlager, Reifschlagehr, Ryfsschlagar, Riefsschlagers, Ryfsschlagers, Reifschlaggert, and Ryfsschlaeger.
It is also worth noting that Reifschläger is a rare surname, with less than 200 people in the world having it as their last name.
Famous people with the name Reifschläger
- Albrecht Reifschläger: German politician and Member of the European Parliament
- Hartwin Reifschläger: former CEO of early German comic-book publisher Ehapa Verlag
- Ulrike Reifschläger: German lutenist from the late baroque era
- Matthias Reifschläger: German organist, keyboard player, composer and improviser
- Fritz Reifschläger: German record producer and label founder
- Vera Reifschläger: German actress and voice actress
- Philipp Reifschläger: German World War I fighter pilot
- Paul Reifschläger: German cooking teacher, author and nuclear engineer
- Franz Reifschläger: German divisional commander during World War I
- Karl Reifschläger: German veterinarian and politician