Surname Rifert - Meaning and Origin
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Rifert: What does the surname Rifert mean?
The last name Rifert is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word 'rivert', meaning 'the dweller by the stream'. The name is thought to have first appeared in Germany in the 13th Century and since then its usage has spread across western Europe.
Rifert is traditionally an occupational surname, given to people who dwelt by rivers. It was particularly common in regions along the German Rhine and in areas of Bavarian, Austrian, and Prussian settlement. As such, the surname is typically associated with water and the occupations of fishing, boat-building, and ferrying supplies and goods along rivers and canals.
The modern descendants of those early German immigrants are spread across the world, many bearing the Rifert name. In the United States, it can be found in states such as Louisiana, Texas, New York, and Illinois, among others. In Canada, the name Rifert is most common in Québec and Ontario.
Rifert is thought to represent an occupational surname that is still popular to this day, even if the people who now bear the name are no longer involved in such pursuits. The name has held its own for centuries, even after centuries of time, distance, and change in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisRifert: Where does the name Rifert come from?
The last name Rifert is most commonly found in Germany and the neighboring countries of Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, near the area that is now modern-day Bavaria, Germany. It is likely a shortened version of an older name like Rieferod, meaning “safe in the Lord.”
The Rifert name is one of the most common in German-speaking countries, with over 1 million people bearing the name in Germany alone. Within Germany, it is most popular in the states of Bavaria, Brandenburg, Berlin, and North Rhine Westphalia. It is also quite prevalent throughout Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries, particularly in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Belarus.
In the United States, the surname Rifert is less common. According to the US census data, 1,001 people had the last name in 2019, spread out across 29 states. The majority of individuals bearing the name live in the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, all of which have large populations of Germans and German descendants who migrated to the US during the 19th century.
Overall, the surname Rifert continues to be well represented in Germany, other German-speaking countries, and Eastern Europe, and to a lesser degree in the US. It remains a strong part of the European-American immigrant families it originated with.
Variations of the surname Rifert
The surname Rifert is believed to be of German origin. Depending on where the family was from, there may be some variations in the spelling, as well as alternate surnames. The most common spelling of the name is Rifert, but some other variations include Riffert, Riffarth, Riffartht, Rifferth, Riefert, and Riefarth.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname could differ depending on the dialect of German spoken in the region the family was from. For example, Riffarth and Riffartht as spellings are both more associated with the Franconian dialects.
Other forms of the surname could stem from a nickname. For example, Randal, or Rynoudt are nicknames for someone who held the surname Rifert. In these cases, the surnames derived from the nickname would be Randallfert and Rynoudtfert.
In addition, some dialects of German allow for surnames to drop the suffix of “-er”, and become “Rif” or Rief”. This surname variation is more common in South German dialects, and could be seen as Rif or Rief instead of Rifert of Riefert.
Overall, the surname Rifert is readily seen in many German speaking countries, with some slight spelling variations due to dialects. Non-German spellings such as Riffard have also been seen, as well as nicknames that have created different surnames with the same origin.
Famous people with the name Rifert
- John Rifert: John Rifert is an American radio and television personality, best known as the host and producer of The John Rifert Show.
- Albert Rifert: Albert Rifert, born in Germany in 1940, is a retired American light heavyweight professional boxer and former world boxing champion. He won the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship after defeating Willie Pastrano in 1965.
- Peter Rifert: Peter Rifert, also known by his stage name 'Wildman Pete', is a German musician and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his successful Eurodance single 'Push It to the Limit' which charted in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.
- Indra Rifert: Indra Rifert is an Austrian former figure skater who competed in ladies' singles. She is the four-time Austrian national champion, as well as a five-time European championship competitor.
- Dan Rifert: Dan Rifert is an American military veteran and the founder of PTSD Relief Now, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Ceri Rifert: Ceri Rifert is a British television director and producer. She has worked on a number of popular British television shows such as EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Coronation Street.
- Paul Rifert: Paul Rifert is a professional hobbyist and the inventor of the magnetic building set, Fluxtram. He is the founder and CEO of the company, which has sold over 3 million sets in its first year.
- Thomas Rifert: Thomas Rifert is a German-born stuntman and actor who has appeared in feature films such as Tomb Raider and Batman Begins.
- Anne Rifert: Anne Rifert is an award-winning Swiss director and screenplay writer. Her films have been shown at festivals around the world, and her most recent feature, Anamnesis, is currently in post production.