Surname Reifers - Meaning and Origin
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Reifers: What does the surname Reifers mean?
Reifers is an occupational German surname, derived from the Middle High German word 'reifer' meaning 'sievemaker'. It's believed that this surname was born out of the tradition of a son taking the profession of his father in order to carry on the family trade.
The Reifers surname is commonly found in the parts of Germany that were formerly part of the East German Democratic Republic, especially in the states of Hamburg and Lower Saxony. The name has been found scattered throughout Germany and parts of Austria since the 1400s, although it has remained fairly concentrated, with most modern-day Reifers' living in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
In the English-speaking world, the Reifers surname comes with many variant spellings, such as Reifer, Reiffers, Reifers and Rayfer, all of which have the same root origin. It is believed that some of these variants were derived as a result of immigration to America, with immigrants possibly simplifying their name for easier pronunciation.
The Reifers surname has become particularly common in the United States, with the surname tracing back to the 18th century when many German emigrants made the journey to America in pursuit of a better life. An estimated 20-25% of the all the Reifers' in the US can trace their lineage back to the original Jacob Reiffers, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1725.
Order DNA origin analysisReifers: Where does the name Reifers come from?
The last name Reifers is primarily found in Germany, where it originated. It is also common in other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. The surname is also found among Jewish families from German-speaking countries, which may be traced back to the priestly tribe of Levi in the Bible.
In the United States, the last name can be found in small numbers throughout the country. It is most common in California, New York and Pennsylvania, where many German immigrants settled in the 1700s and 1800s. A few families have also settled in parts of Australia and South Africa.
There are several variations of the last name such as Reiferson, Reifersson, Reiffers, and Reiferman, and all variations are likely descendants of the same ancestor. Asians of European heritage may also have the last name Reifers since it is often Anglicized to the similar sounding "Rivers."
Interestingly, the name Reifers is also linked to the German word "riffer," which means a deep and rapid, often violent stream of water. This is evidence of a possible origin of the name, as it could have been used to denote someone who was a fierce and powerful streamer of water long ago.
Variations of the surname Reifers
The Reifers surname has many variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of Reifers include Reiffers, Reiff, Reif, Reifel and Reyfers. Reiff and Reif are the most common variations, Reiffers and Reifel being rarely used.
In some cases, the descendants of the Reifers family may have their surname spelled as Reefers or Rieffers. This variation is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, due to the difficulty of translating the Reifers surname from German to English.
The Reifers surname is also spelled Reiffer and Reifer in some parts of Europe due to dialectical and phonetic differences. Reifer is a particularly popular variation in Austria.
Reifers may also be spelled as Ryfers or Rufers in some regions. These are less common spellings, and are believed to have originated in France.
The Reifers surname is often found in combination with other surnames. For example, the surname Vineyard-Reifers, indicating the presence of French and German heritage within a family, is common in some parts of Europe.
The same origin surname for Reifers is Reiff, derived from the Old German words Rīh or Rig, meaning 'rich', and -friþu, meaning 'peace'. This is believed to have been a common surname among wealthy families in the 10th century.
Overall, there are many different variants of the Reifers surname, with a variety of spellings. Despite their differences in spelling, these surnames all have the same origin, hinting at the roots of the Reifers family in 10th century Germany.
Famous people with the name Reifers
- Harry Reifers, American professional golfer
- Pete Reifer, retired American basketball player
- Lisa Reifers, former US volleyball player
- Jim Reifers, American football player
- Vicky Reifers, former US gymnast
- Dean Reifers, former professional lacrosse player
- Kayla Reifers, current American basketball player
- Joe Reifers, American former minor league baseball player
- Ken Reifers, American former professional baseball player
- Robert Reifers, American football player
- Rich Reifers, former baseball player
- Dave Reifers, current American psychologist and US Navy veteran
- Joan Reifers, American former competitive swimmer
- Kevin Reifers, American professional golfer
- Michael Reifers, American former professional football player
- Ed Reifers, American former professional tennis player