Surname Reintjens - Meaning and Origin

Reintjens: What does the surname Reintjens mean?

The surname Reintjens is of Dutch origin, with the prefix "Rein" coming from the Germanic personal name Reinhard, derived from the elements 'ragin', meaning 'counsel' and 'hard', meaning 'strong, brave'. It is believed the name began as a Germanic personal name, and was brought to the Netherlands where it quickly became a popular surname.

In its original Dutch form, the name is "Reintjens". It consists of two smaller parts – 'Rein' and 'tjens'. The latter part of the surname 'tjens' comes from the Dutch word 'Djes', which itself is derived from the old Dutch word 'Dju', meaning 'son'. This makes the name indicative of 'descendant of Reinhard', implying that the first bearer of the surname was likely to have been the son of a man named Reinhard.

Over time, the surname gained variations in spelling when used in different countries, including Reintjes, Rheintjes, Reinings, and Reimers.

The name Reintjens remained prominence in Dutch families until World War I, during which time many Dutch families left the Netherlands for other countries in search of opportunities and a better quality of life. As a result, there are now many Reintjens descendants in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Today, the surname Reintjens is a global name, though its Dutch origin is still evident amongst its many spelling variations. Through its history this name continues to represent strength, courage, and determination, regardless of what country it is found.

Reintjens: Where does the name Reintjens come from?

The last name Reintjens is most commonly found in Belgium and The Netherlands, two countries bordering each other in Western Europe. The Netherlands is known for its extensive trading network and colonization, and many Dutch surnames such as Reintjens have traveled across the globe with hundreds of years of emigration. The name is particularly concentrated in the Limburg and Brabant area of Belgium, where its presence dates back to the 15th century and to the Dutch city of Alkmaar in The Netherlands.

It is also found in some parts of Canada, the United States, and South Africa as a result of the Dutch and Belgian settlers who settled in these countries in the 1800s and were responsible for introducing the Reintjens name. Other countries with a smaller population of Reintjens include Germany, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, and Australia.

In Dutch, the Reintjens name is spelled Reinjens and it has a few variations including Reintsema, Reintjes, and Reintjem. The Reintjens family is reported to have descended from a small group of Flemish nobles of the same name, who resided in the area now known as Belgium during the Middle Ages.

Today, the surname Reintjens is still widely present in the countries of origin and through emigration, can now be found around the world.

Variations of the surname Reintjens

Reintjens is a Dutch surname of patronymic origin meaning "son of Rein", Rein being a short form of names beginning with "Rein," such as Reinhard or Reinier. Although it is most commonly spelled "Reintjens," there are several alternate spellings and alternative surnames of similar etymological origin.

The most common variants of the Reintjens surname are "Reintjes" and "Reyntjes," both of which arise from the mishearing of a misspoken vowellising of the original surname. There is also the variant "Reyntjens," which carries the extra "y" via folk etymology.

The patronymic prefix has also been anglicised as "Reint," giving rise to surnames such as "Reints" and "Reintsen." In the now-dissolved Flemish "Reynts" can also be found, having arisen from a reanalysis of the initials "RNT."

Furthermore, the Dutch name can be found in its feminine form, with the patronymic prefix "Reintien" instead being used to produce the surnames "Reintein" and "Reinteens."

Finally, other surnames have arisen from the Reintjens surname in the process of migration. Van Reintjens is a common Dutch diminutive name, while in Low Saxon speaking areas the surname "Reenten" and the High German variant "Reinentzen" can be found.

In conclusion, the Reintjens surname and its variants can be seen as just a few of the many languages, alterations and migrations to have affected the name’s etymology over time.

Famous people with the name Reintjens

• Bart Reintjens: Dutch professional football midfielder who last played for AGOVV Apeldoorn.
• Edson Reintjens:music producer and songwriter, who has written and produced several Latin music awards nominated songs.
• Julia Reintjens: Dutch professional ice hockey player who serves as Captain of the Netherlands women's ice hockey team.
• Gerard Reintjens: Dutch former professional football player who played for Dutch club Roda JC Kerkrade.
• Frank Reintjens: Dutch professional football defender who is currently playing for Helmond Sport.
• Paul Reintjens: Belgian former professional football player who played for several football clubs in Belgium and Germany.
• Bent Reintjens: South African former middle distance runner who won gold medals at the All-Africa Games twice.
• Lode Reintjens: Belgian former professional football player who played for numerous football clubs in Belgium and Italy.
• Jo Reintjens: Dutch professional football player who is currently contracted with Go Ahead Eagles.
• Emilie Reintjens: Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for the Netherlands women's national team.

Other surnames

Reintjes