Surname Reeber - Meaning and Origin
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Reeber: What does the surname Reeber mean?
The last name Reeber is a surname of German origin and can be found most commonly throughout Europe and North America. It is derived from the German word "Reiber," meaning "a man who reaps or harvests grains," or "a one who does reaping work." As a surname, Reeber is believed to have first come into use in Germany, where it was associated with those individuals who held farming or harvesting related occupations.
The surname is primarily found in the form of "Reiber" or "Reeber" in Germany, but the spelling may differ in other countries. In addition, the phonetic version, "Rieber," is also common in Austria and Switzerland. It is believed that the Reeber spelling was likely adopted by some immigrants as they moved out of Germany and into other countries in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the United States, the last name Reeber is both an uncommon and a relatively new surname. It is estimated that fewer than 5,000 individuals in the United States are currently carrying the Reeber surname. Its relative rarity indicates that the Reeber surname has not been in the United States for very long and could be tied to a specific individual or family who immigrated from Europe.
In any case, the name Reeber is steeped in German history as a surname of those who were tied to the harvesting and farming professions. In modern times, Reeber likely still has familial ties to those professions, but is now more commonly found among a variety of backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisReeber: Where does the name Reeber come from?
The last name Reeber is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. It is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "repare", meaning fox.
In the US in particular, there were around 2000 people with the Reeber surname in the 2000 census. The majority of these were located in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. Other states with significant populations include Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin.
In Canada, the Reeber family can mostly be found in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with smaller populations in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The number of individuals with the surname Reeber in Canada is estimated to be 2,770. In addition, the last name Reeber is gaining traction in the UK and Europe.
The surname Reeber can still be seen in several established Germanic families, descending from the House of Reimers. Members of the family have turned up in some unexpected places, such as in the literary world, where a forebear of the family wrote a bestselling novel and also served as the Ambassador to France during the Revolutionary War.
In short, while the surname Reeber is relatively uncommon around the world, there is a significant population of people with the Reeber last name alive in North America today.
Variations of the surname Reeber
The surname Reeber is a variation on the surname Reber. It is an ancient German-derived surname, indicating one of the earliest versions of the spelling. Variants of this surname include Reber, Reiber, Rieber, Reebour, Riebourg, Reebor, and Rebour.
Reeber is a particular variation of Reber. The most common spelling throughout much of Europe, Reber, is derived from the Old German (Alemannic) word "rebar" meaning "counselor" or "councilor." This spelling was popularized in the 8th- to 10-th centuries. The derivative variant spelling Reeber emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries and has been used ever since.
In many English-speaking countries, the spelling Reeber has been less common than the original spelling Reber or its variations. However, some spellings of Reeber still exist especially in the United States and Canada.
The Reeber surname has also been anglicized as Rebar, Rehbar, Raabar, Rabar, Riebeyer, Rayber, Rieper, Rieple, Ricebar, Reep, Reeser, and Reitz. It can also be further localized by language, such as the French spelling, Rebourg.
Spelling variants can offer clues to a family’s geographical origins. For instance, the Reeber spelling is especially common in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The Reiber variation is more often associated with France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Simply put, the Reeber surname is a variation of the broader Reber family name, a name of German origin that has been adapted and respelled for different cultures around the world.
Famous people with the name Reeber
- Dave Reiber: Former professional wrestler for the National Wrestling Alliance.
- Bill Reiber: American football player for the San Francisco 49ers.
- Lori Reiber: Competitive figure skater, four-time Silver and two-time Gold Medalist.
- Jeff Reiber: Professional baseball player, hall of fame pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics.
- P.J. Reiber: Singer and songwriter, known for his chart-topping hits.
- Ken Reiber: Professional basketball player, played for the San Diego Lakers from 1949-1954.
- Glynne Reiber: Academy Award-winning costume designer, best known for her work on films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Silverado.
- Max Reiber: World-renowned pianist and composer, composed dozens of jazz standards.
- Francis Reiber: Disney producer and animator, his work includes numerous animated classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
- Brad Reiber: Entrepreneur and founder of the successful fitness and nutrition company ReiberFitness.