Surname Riehm - Meaning and Origin
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Riehm: What does the surname Riehm mean?
Riehm is a surname of German origin. Like many European surnames, it is believed to be derived from the profession or living situation of the family when surnames began to be used. The name is likely a variant of "Riem", which is derived from "Riemer" or "Riemmacher", meaning a "maker of reins or belts". Therefore, the surname Riehm might have been adopted by a family whose ancestors were engaged in making leather goods, such as reins for horses or belts for clothing. Surnames became necessary when governments started requiring them for personal taxation purposes. They were adopted for the need of identification, typically based on occupation, location, characteristics, or ancestor's names. As surnames evolved over centuries, many of them experienced various spelling changes and interpretations. However, the core roots usually remain the same, reflecting a family's history and ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisRiehm: Where does the name Riehm come from?
The surname Riehm is most commonly found in Germany today, but is also present in some areas of Central and Eastern Europe. It is an occupational surname, used to denote a rural craftsman or farmer in the Middle Ages. It has also been used to denote a member of the guild of clothmakers.
In Germany, the name can be found most frequently in the former states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. It is also present in some areas of what is now Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Historians have identified it as being present in these regions since at least the 14th century.
The name Riehm may now also be found in some parts of the United States, particularly in the Midwest. Immigration records show families bearing the name arriving in New York in the late 19th century. Later, many of these families moved out into other states, such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa.
Though rare, the surname Riehm is occasionally encountered in other parts of the world, particularly Canada, Australia and South Africa. In these nations, the name is typically thought to have entered due to families of German descent migrating in the 20th century.
Variations of the surname Riehm
The surname Riehm is derived from the Middle High German words "rich" or "riche," meaning "rich," and is most widely found in the German-speaking areas of Europe. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as the surname Riehm include Ryam, Riehle, Rehme, Rehman, Rehmer, Reim, Reimann, Reimen, Renm, Reihe, Ryme, and Rymm.
The surname Reym could be found in medieval documents, indicating it had already been common by then, often referring to a landowner or someone of high status. In the writings of the 13th century, the spellings Riehm and Ryam were already in use.
The surname Riehm is most commonly found in Germany. Its variants Rehme, Rehman, Rehmer, and Reihe can also be found in Germany, although Reimann, Renm, Ryme, and Rymm are more commonly encountered in other parts of Europe. The variants Riehle and Reimen are most commonly encountered in Switzerland and Austria.
Interestingly, the surname Renm is currently more popular in the United Kingdom due to its occurrence in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Richard Renm, and is increasing in popularity in the U.K. and America.
Regardless of its spelling, the surname Riehm is most likely derived from its source Middle High German word "rich" or "riche," and indicates a person of some wealth and status.
Famous people with the name Riehm
- Hayden Riehm: Hayden is an actor and singer famously known for his roles on the television series Stranger Things, Glee, and American Horror Story.
- Stefan Riehm: Stefan is a German musician who is most known for being a founding member of the Band “In Extremo”. He is a flutist and the group is considered to be one of the most popular German rock bands.
- Chad Riehm: Chad is a professional baseball pitcher who has played in the minor leagues for the Detroit Tigers organization since 2012.
- Tim Riehm: Tim is a renowned and well-respected public historian who has had a major impact on the American Museum of Natural History. He has written numerous books on history, natural science, and museum management.
- Martina Riehm: Martina is a German breast cancer survivor and model. She is an advocate for those affected by breast cancer and regularly speaks out about her experience.
- Emily Riehm: Emily is an American author, known for writing the science fiction novel “Neptune’s Rising.” She also wrote the historical fiction novel “The Land Below.”
- Sydney Riehm: Sydney is a former professional volleyball player who has competed in the USA Beach Volleyball Tour and the National Volleyball League.