Surname Reigle - Meaning and Origin
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Reigle: What does the surname Reigle mean?
The last name Reigle is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word "reigel" meaning "putter or driver of a carriage." Individuals with this surname were responsible for guiding and driving wagons or carriages for individuals, families, and groups of people. The surname also sheds light on the occupation of the person who had the surname. In medieval times anyone given the right to drive a carriage was of social importance as it assisted in the transportation of goods, people, and materials.
The surname Reigle is most commonly found in the Germanic countries of Europe such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The surname was also brought to the United States in the late 18th century when immigrants from Germany and Austria began to arrive.
Today, Reigle is an uncommon last name and most likely to be found in the United States and other parts of the world where Germanic immigrants established families. The Reigles of today can trace their ancestry to individuals responsible for driving carriages and wagons and taking part in a profession that was of great social importance in medieval times.
Order DNA origin analysisReigle: Where does the name Reigle come from?
The last name Reigle is a German last name originally derived from the personal name Reginald. It is most common today in both Germany and the United States.
In the US, according to the 2020 US Census, the last name Reigle ranks 8,400th in terms of population. It is relatively rare, though still found in approximately 0.002% of the population.
In Germany, the surname is also much less common than other German surnames, but is still found primarily in eastern Germany and the former West Berlin. According to a genealogical study from 2019, the last name Reigle is the 41,765th most common last name in Germany.
Most Reigles found in the US have German ancestry, and can trace their roots to ancestors who immigrated from Germany, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also families with the surname Reigle who originated in France and Switzerland and immigrated to both the United States and Germany.
Variations of the surname Reigle
The surname Reigle is of German origin and is also known as Reigel, Reigle, Reichle, and Reichel. In some cases, the spelling of the name has been Anglicised and is also known as Riegel, Reagel, Reigal, Reagal, Regal, Riggle, Regel, Riegle, Rigal, Rical, Rigel, Rigle, and Rygle.
Reigle is derived from the Middle High German word "riegeren" which means ‘to rule’. This is typically signifying a sign of authority or descent from a ruling family. It is thought that the name Reigle relates to an ancestor who held a noble or powerful position within a local community.
The name Reigle has diverged into multiple spellings over time due to regional dialects, foreign language influence, and phonetic spellings. Variants of the name include Reigel, Reigle, Reichle, and Reichel. Anglicised spellings include Riegel, Reagel, Reigal, Reagal, Regal, Riggle, Regel, Riegle, Rigal, Rical, Rigel, Rigle, and Rygle.
Surnames of the same origin can include Reicher, Reichart, Reichard, Reichhardt, Reichel, Reichardt, Reich, Reichelt, Richer, Reichert, and Reichenbach. It is also possible that due to similar sounding names, people may have been identified with the wrong surnames due to clerical errors.
Overall, the surname Reigle has an illustrious backstory, with an origin that took root in the Middle High German language in the 12th century. It is now found in many countries around the world and has a history full of numerous spelling and surname variants.
Famous people with the name Reigle
- Gary Reigle: Actor, mainly known for appearing in recent films such as The Big Lebowski, The Quick and the Dead and Steel Magnolias.
- Steve Reigle: Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who had brief stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets.
- Tal Reigle: Former NFL (National Football League) defensive lineman who played for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.
- Donald Reigle: American politician who served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Michigan State legislature.
- Joseph Reigle: Silver medalist at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the 3000 metre steeplechase.
- Joshua Reigle: Professional BMX (Bicycle Motocross) racer who competed in the 2006 and 2008 Summer X Games.
- John Reigle: Former chairman of the British Cast Iron Research Association.
- Danny Reigle: American voice actor who has lent his voice to a variety of Disney films.
- Ron Reigle: Prominent Jazz musician who recorded with Chuck Mangione on several occasions and has performed in many concerts.
- Adam Reigle: Los Angeles based filmmaker and former cinematographer whose works have been showcased in a range of international film festivals.