Surname Rittwage - Meaning and Origin

Rittwage: What does the surname Rittwage mean?

The surname Rittwage is of German origin. However, there is no specific, widely-accepted meaning for this last name. Like many surnames, Rittwage likely started as either a patronymic name, occupational name, or geographical name. In German, "ritt" can translate to "rode", which might suggest an association with horse riding or transportation. Similarly, "wage" could translate to "weigh", possibly indicating an occupation dealing with weighing such as a merchant or trader. However, these translations are speculative and may not accurately represent the surname's original meaning or context. Since the etymology of many surnames has been lost to history, understanding their exact meanings can be difficult. Lastly, it's worth noting that the distribution of the surname Rittwage is quite low and it is not frequently found in German-speaking countries today. For a definitive meaning and origin of the name, professional genealogical research could provide more specific insights.

Rittwage: Where does the name Rittwage come from?

The last name Rittwage is a rare name, particularly in the United States. It is thought to have originated from the German town of Mittweida. Records show that the earliest known use of this name appears in the Oberlausitz district of Saxony, Germany in the late 17th century. The name is centered in Germany, as well as parts of Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

Although not particularly common in the United States today, records show that it arrived first in the mid-1800s. This could be attributed to the influx of immigrants from Germany, Poland, and other Central and Eastern European countries. As a result, the Rittwage name spread from the East Coast to the Midwest, and eventually to the West Coast.

Today, people bearing the Rittwage name are located all over the world, but the majority live in Germany, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is also moderately common in the United States, particularly in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and California, each of which have around 200 Rittwages living in them.

Given that the surname is so rare and its origins are relatively obscure, it is difficult to determine where the name is most common today. Most likely, it is still concentrated in the countries of origin, where the name first appeared.

Variations of the surname Rittwage

The name Rittwage is of German origin. Variants and surnames from the same source include Rittwager, Rittweger, Retwager, Redwager, Retweger, and Redweger.

The spelling Rittwage/Rittwage is derived from the German words "Ritt" meaning "Ride", and "Wage" meaning "Guard". This suggests a guarded or protected ride, which may have referred to the status of riders in a caravan or guard troops traveling with a convoy. This was then adopted as a surname by someone with the occupation of a "Rittwage", or "guard on horseback".

It is possible that the more rare variants Retwager and Redwager come from an older version of the spelling of this surname, dropping the first "T" from Rittwage. Likewise, it is possible that the Retweger and Redweger variants are a result of taking the "W" from the word "Wage", making the surname Redeger, which was then adapted into the modern day Redweger and Retweger forms.

In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rittwage are: Rittwager, Rittweger, Retwager, Redwager, Retweger and Redweger.

Famous people with the name Rittwage

• Alex Rittwage: German-born American soccer goalkeeper.
• Blake Rittwage: American former professional soccer player that played in Major League Soccer and the USISL.
• James Rittwage: Executive Director for the National Thomas Merton Society.
• Joseph Rittwage: American Lutheran pastor and professor.
• Mark Rittwage: Former professional American football player.
• Nick Rittwage:Creative director and photographer.
• Paul Rittwage: American college basketball player.
• Raymond Rittwage: Musician and film score composer.
• Robert Rittwage: Former American professional baseball pitcher.
• Scott Rittwage: Former professional soccer player in the NASL.
• Steven Rittwage: American politician.
• William Rittwage: American senior executive.

Other surnames

Rittwagen