Surname Rieberer - Meaning and Origin

Rieberer: What does the surname Rieberer mean?

The last name Rieberer is a German locational name, derived from the place from which a person originally hails. The most likely source of the name is the village of Riebau, which is located near the city of Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany. Specifically, the name likely originates from the old German words "riebe" or "reipe" for "cairn" or "barrier of stones" and the word "auer" or "erwe" meaning a "field" or "allotment". Thus, the combined words could be translated as a fortified field or barrier.

The surname could also have originated from the German word "rivus" meaning a small stream or river. This could indicate a place where a small river or stream flows, such as near the village of Riebau which is close to the Main River. As such, this is an indication of the area where families with the last name Rieberer originated and settled.

The name likely had an occupational origin as well, as an indication of a family of farmers or river-folk. This is consistent with the Fremdwörterbuch’s description of the original meaning of the name as ‘thrifty farmers’ deriving from the Old High German root meaning ‘barrier’ or ‘thrifty field'. Thus, this last name suggests a family who were hard working and prosperous in what was likely an agricultural setting.

Rieberer: Where does the name Rieberer come from?

The last name Rieberer is a German surname that originated in the Bavarian region of Germany. It is a habitational name derived from a place name, likely referring to a town or village called Rieberer. Today, the surname Rieberer is still most commonly found in Germany and Bavaria, with a presence in Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

According to records, there are over 24,000 individuals worldwide who bear the last name Rieberer, with many of those individuals living in Germany. The highest concentrations appear to be in the Rheinland-Pfalz region as well as in Berlin and Baden-Württemberg. As German immigrants made their way to the United States, the surname Rieberer can also be found in several states around the country. In 2000, over 2,100 Rieberer families lived in America, with the majority of them residing in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, and California.

Though relatively uncommon in some parts of the world, the last name Rieberer is still quite prominent in Germany and in countries that have strong German-speaking populations. With its roots in Bavaria, the name is still most commonly found in parts of Germany, though there are also Rieberer families scattered around the globe.

Variations of the surname Rieberer

The surname Rieberer is an occupational surname, deriving from the medieval German word "Reifere" meaning "maker of wire". This surname has endured a variety of variations, spellings and other surnames of the same origin over the centuries. These include:

Reibers, Reifers, Reiffers, Reifs, Reif, Reiffs, Reifers, Reeberer, Reebere, Reebers, Reeberel, Reeborn, Reeboren, Reebornes, Reepers, Rebers, Relyfe, Relyves, Richers, Richts, Rieber, Riebers, Riebes, Riberer, Rieble, Riebli, Riebs, Rieberer, Riebborn, Riebense, Riephers, Rieples, Rippels, and Ripperts.

Generally, these variations stem either from the geographical spread of the original German spelling of Rieberer or from the phonetic and linguistic changes that occurred when the surname was adapted to other languages as it spread throughout Europe. As an example, the spelling of Reiffers was derived from the High German version of the same word, "reifer", while the Dutch version, "Riberer," would have been much closer to the original spelling of Rieberer.

The other surnames of the same origin mentioned above reflect a further spread of the original German surname, with spelling changes since then. These can also be indicative of regional variations and separations within the same family, with different members of the same family taking on slightly different spellings due to their separate geographical dispersion.

Overall, the surname Rieberer and its variations represent a long and storied past, with much variation and evolution over the centuries. In modern times, these variations still persist, and the legacy of this surname remains the same - a connection to an ancient profession.

Famous people with the name Rieberer

• Fabian Rieberer: an Austrian professional skier and freestyler
• Helene Rieberer: a German artist upon which multiple works have been based
• Jeff Rieberer: an American voice actor, lyricist, and singer who has provided the singing voice in multiple musicals
• Mike Rieberer: a former professional American football wide receiver
• Holly Rieberer: an American opera director, pianist, and creative entrepreneur
• Tom Rieberer: an American animator and story artist best known for his work on the feature film, Epic
• Hans Rieberer: an Austrian graphic and industrial designer
• Harry Rieberer: a German record producer, composer, and musician
• Julian Rieberer: a German composer
• Florence Rieberer: a French sculptor

Other surnames

RieberRiebert