Surname Riegell - Meaning and Origin

Riegell: What does the surname Riegell mean?

The last name Riegell is of German and Jewish origin. The name is derived from a German word meaning "prisoner" or "captive". Historically, the name may have been a nickname for someone who had been held prisoner in a jail or prison. It may also have referred to a person held in serfdom or some type of military service in which a soldier was put to labor.

In more modern times, the name is often associated with the Jewish communities in Europe. During the Holocaust, many Jews were held in concentration camps and the name Riegell was commonly used as a name by these captives. It was also used as a name for those held in ghettos and prisoner-of-war camps.

Since the end of World War II, the name has come to represent freedom from captivity and oppression. The name is often seen as a symbol of strength, courage, and determination. It conveys a sense of resilience and perseverance; those bearing the name are often seen to be strong individuals who have endured a great deal of hardship.

Riegell: Where does the name Riegell come from?

The last name Riegell is most common in countries where German is spoken, such as Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries in Europe. The name is a habitational name, derived from the German word reigal, which refers to an area surrounded by a wall, typically a castle or fortress. As surnames are typically passed down through families, the name Riegell has likely been carried by members of the same family for generations, making it more recognizable in those countries.

Riegell is also common in American states that had a large population of German immigrants such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Missouri. Over the last century, large numbers of Germans migrated to America in search of a better life, and as those immigrants settled they often kept the last name Riegell. As a result, the name is still recognizable in many areas of the United States.

Last name frequency maps reveal that Riegell is most common in Europe, with concentration points in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. In America, the name is most common in western states such as California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as midwestern states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Variations of the surname Riegell

The Riegell surname has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. The most commonly used variants are ‘Riegell’, ‘Regel’, ‘Regal’, ‘Rigel’ and ‘Rigell’. These variants are connected to the German word 'regal', meaning 'scepter', and are likely to be descended from a family of high surnames or nobility in the 12th to 15th centuries.

The Riegell surname is also found in a number of other spellings. Historically, Germanic dialects were attributed to some spellings, including 'Riegel', 'Riegl', 'Rieglh', 'Riegler', 'Regler', 'Riegelmann', 'Rygala', and 'Rugala'. Other countries may also join in this list, as variants such as 'Rigol' and 'Regell' are found in Spain and Portugal. A few variants, such as ‘Reigelman’, ‘Reigh’, ‘Reigle’, ‘Reighley’, and ‘Reigel’, are also found in the United States.

In addition to the variants listed, there are a number of surnames that are connected to the Riegell surname. These include ‘Riegfuss’, ‘Riegaffe’, ‘Regeness’, ‘Regenbach’, ‘Regenios’, ‘Reicker’, ‘Reickel’, ‘Riegle’, ‘Riehl’, ‘Riehe’, ‘Riesig’, ‘Rietz’, ‘Ritter’, ‘Ritz’, ‘Ritzmann’, and ‘Regner’. These surnames are likely to be derived from either a regional German dialect or a specific German region that the family originate from.

All of these variants, spellings, and surnames share the same origin in the original Riegell surname. Together, they can provide valuable information on an individual’s family history, particularly if a surname has been anglicized over time.

Famous people with the name Riegell

• Nik Riegell: French figure skater and coach
• Kirk Riegell: American ice hockey player
• Rubin Riegell: American actor
• James Riegell: American actor
• Khristina Riegell: American actress
• Mark Riegell: American actor and comedian
• Ray Riegell: American firearms designer
• Mark Riegell: American politician
• Thomas Riegell: Australian painter
• Oliver Riegell: German entrepreneur
• Laura Riegell: German fashion designer
• Heinz Riegell: German composer
• Hermann Riegell: Austrian architect
• Jürgen Riegell: German olympic athlete
• Fritz Riegell: German gymnast
• Rolf Riegell: Swedish football player
• Ulf Riegell: Swedish football player and coach
• Ida Riegell: Norwegian actress
• Ottorina Riegell: Italian actress
• Torvald Riegell: Norwegian musician

Other surnames

RiegelRiegerRiegerlRiegermann