Surname Reinheimer - Meaning and Origin
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Reinheimer: What does the surname Reinheimer mean?
The last name Reinheimer is a German name derived from the Middle High German term “reienheim,” which translates to “home of the rein, or reindeer.” The name was likely originally given to someone from a prominent family who kept reindeer for breeding and use in hunting or riding. Reinheimer is an occupational name since the family likely made a living by raising or caring for reindeer.
Over the centuries, the name evolved from Reienheimer to Reinheimer. Today, the name is still found across Germany and other countries in Europe, including France, Austria, and Latvia. It’s also been widely adopted by those of German descent in the U.S.
Reinheimer is a strong surname, and those with this name are proud of their heritage. They feel a connection to the original families who gave them this name centuries ago. People with this last name often have a strong appreciation for traditional values, and the sense of pride that comes with knowing their roots.
Order DNA origin analysisReinheimer: Where does the name Reinheimer come from?
The last name Reinheimer is most common in Germany today. It is also found in other countries with German heritage like the United States, Canada, and Austria.
In Germany, the initial focus of the Reinheimer family was in the Baden area of the country. From the 1500s up until the 1700s the family was found in and around the city of Heidelberg. The family became more widespread following the Napoleonic wars, when many people were displaced from their homes. By the late 1800s, there were many Reinheimer families in Hamburg and other cities in northwestern Germany.
In America, Reinheimers followed the standard patterns of German immigration and dispersed throughout the country. The earliest recorded Reinheimer immigration dates back to the 1850s from Baden, Germany and Port Sullivan, Texas. Today, Reinheimer families can be found in cities large and small throughout the US, including Wisconsin, Texas, Missouri, and Michigan.
In Canada, the Reinheimer family established itself mainly throughout Ontario, although some can be found in Quebec as well.
The Reinheimer name is still common in Germany, the US, and Canada. It is a strong German surname that has held on despite centuries of war and cultural upheaval.
Variations of the surname Reinheimer
The surname Reinheimer is a patronymic name derived from the first name Reinhard. It is sometimes spelled Reinheimer and other variants include Reinheim, Reinheym, Reinheimmer, Reinheymer, and Reinallocher. Reinheimer can also be found as a shortened form of the family name, such as Rheim or Reim.
Reinheimer is a German surname and as such is found most often in countries that are predominantly German speaking, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, although this name may also be found in other parts of the world due to immigration.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname may have been altered due to the fact that it was often difficult to accurately record the name in official records due to language and dialectal differences. For example, the name Floersheim may have been recorded as Reinheimer because the German pronunciation for Floersheim is similar to Reinheimer.
One variation of the family name, Reinallocher, is derived from the Middle High German words "rīn" (mud) and "löchl" (large hole). This name may have been given to members of the family who owned a mud-filled property such as a pond or a bog.
In some cases, Reinheimer may be used as a nickname for those with dark hair or eyes, due to the resemblance of their features to a wild ram.
No matter how it is spelled, the surname Reinheimer is a patronymic name and indicates a family connected to the first name Reinhard.
Famous people with the name Reinheimer
- Heribert Reinheimer (b 1938), German orthopaedist and professor
- Paul Reinheimer (b 1936), American chemist
- Lydia Reinheimer (fl. 1920s-1930s), German writer
- Ryan Reinheimer (fl. 2000s-2010s), American engineer
- Jan Reinheimer (fl. 1910s-1920s), German jurist, politician and politician
- Sigismund Reinheimer (fl. 1930s-1940s), German bishop
- Arturo Reinheimer (fl. 1940s-1950s), Argentinian cartoonist
- Philipp Reinheimer (fl. 1700s-1800s), German baron
- David Reinheimer (fl. 1800s-1900s), Czech politician and lawyer
- Erich Reinheimer (fl. 1900s-1910s), German zoologist