Surname Raiber - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Raiber: What does the surname Raiber mean?
The last name Raiber is of Germanic origin and is derived from the German phrase “Raiber” which means a “peddler” or a “hawker of goods”. It is likely to have originally been used as an occupational surname.
The Raiber family name is common in both Germany and Austria. The Raiber surname is most commonly found in Upper Bavarian regions of Germany, and represents a strong ancestral presence in these countries for many centuries. The Raiber family tree is believed to have been recorded as far back as the 13th century in Germany.
The meaning of the Raiber last name has changed over time, but the underlying concept always remained the same. In its early days, the term denoted a skilled trader who could be relied upon to engage in successful negotiations with suppliers. It has more recently come to mean a tenacious and entrepreneurial spirit, as borne out by the Raiber family lineage.
In later years, the surname Raiber was adopted by members of the Jewish faith who moved within Germanic and Austrian-speaking lands, and today the surname is just as commonly held by Jews as it is by non-Jews.
Whether Jewish or non-Jewish, today the surname Raiber conveys an image of a skilled negotiator, supported by the industrious spirit of adaptation and the tenacity to succeed. Overall, it conjures a picture of a modern merchant connected to an unbroken legacy of resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisRaiber: Where does the name Raiber come from?
The surname Raiber is a German surname derived from the given name Rabe, which is the German word for raven. This surname is not as common today as it was at one time and is mainly associated with Germany and Austria. It is also heavily concentrated in certain areas, most notably in the areas of southern Germany extending into Austria and parts of Eastern Europe. In 2020, data from the United States Census Bureau identified less than 1,000 individuals with the Raiber surname living in the US, making it an uncommon last name in the country.
Inside Germany, the surname is most heavily concentrated in Bavaria, with the largest numbers located in the cities of Munich, Nuremburg, Augsburg, and Berlin. In Austria, the name is again most strongly concentrated in Vienna and its surrounding areas. The name is also seen in a scattering of other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. With the large influx of Emigration from Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, the name can sporadically be seen in East Coast states such as New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Raiber
Raiber is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German word raibe, meaning a rapier or similar weapon. A number of variants exist, mostly within the German language root. Common spellings include Raiber, Raebar, Raeber, Raybar, Rayber, Reiber, Reyber, Rebar and Rieber.
In some instances, Raiber has become anglicized and has varied spellings as a result. Common anglicized spellings include Raider, Royber, Royer and Ryder.
In some cases, the surname has evolved over generations and other forms of it have arisen. This includes variations such as Reichber, Reichberger, Reicker, Reickerd, Reickert, Ricker, Rieck, Rieckert, Riecke, Rieckmann, Riehof, Riep, Ruppert, Ryep, Ryker and Rykert.
Raiber is also found as a patronymic surname, often appearing as a prefix in the form of de Raiber. Common surnames of this origin include deRaiber, de Raebar, de Rayber, de Raybar, de Reyber, de Reiber, de Rebar, De Rieber, de Roiber and de Ryber.
In some cases, the different types of Raiber surnames have been combined and accepted as one surname. An example of this would be Reyber-Rieck.
Raiber is an uncommon name and can be found in records from Germany, the Netherlands and England in Europe as well as amongst German-speaking communities in North America. It is a great example of how names are transformed over time, and can help those researching their family history to trace their most distant ancestors.
Famous people with the name Raiber
- Greta Raiber: Austrian director and writer
- Amina Raiber: German model and actress
- Ethan Raiber: American actor
- Pieter Raiber: Dutch actor and writer
- Urska Raiber: Croatian sculptor
- Rainer Raiber: Austrian singer and conductor
- Armin Raiber: Chilean actor and songwriter
- Johanna Raiber: German singer and flautist
- Brigitte Raiber: Austrian journalist
- Alexander Raiber: Austrian classical mandolinist