Surname Reiff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Reiff: What does the surname Reiff mean?
The surname Reiff is German in origin, deriving from the Middle High German term "reif", which means "hoop" or "band." It was traditionally an occupational surname given to a cooper or barrel maker who used hoops in his work. Alternatively, it could also be a nickname given to an individual known for wearing hoop-shaped jewelry. As with many surnames, different families with the surname Reiff may not be directly related and may have got their surname through different means. Over time, this name has various spelling forms due to the phonetic spelling nature of many early records.
Order DNA origin analysisReiff: Where does the name Reiff come from?
The last name Reiff is most commonly found around Europe, especially in Germany, where it originated. In 2015, Reiff was the 483rd most common surname in Germany and the highest ranked in the country. Reiff is also common in several other countries, including Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and France.
In the United States, Reiff is particularly common in Pennsylvania, where more than 1000 people shared the name in the 2010 US Census. It is also quite common in Ohio and parts of the Midwest, and to a lesser extent, in California and New Jersey.
Reiff is also fairly common throughout Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Despite its European roots, it is also found amongst the Afrikaans-speaking population of South Africa and Hotaki and Pashtun people of Afghanistan.
In all, more than 30,000 people in the world today share the last name Reiff, highlighted by a large presence in Europe and the United States. The name is also strongly represented in Canada, South Africa and Afghanistan, and shows up in small numbers in many other countries.
Variations of the surname Reiff
The surname Reiff is a variant of the German name Reif, which is of Germanic origin and derived from the personal name "Reif", meaning 'strong ruler'. This surname has a variety of spelling variants, alternate spellings and variations, including: Reif, Reife, Reiff, Reiffe, Reifen, Reifler, Reich, Reiche, Reichel, Reichle, Reicher, Reichert, Reichet, Reicherz, Reicherz, Reifschneider, and Ryf.
The surnames Reif and Reiff may have originated from distinct families, as it is possible for two separate branches of a family to have the same name. The surname Reiff is found in records since the Middle Ages in Central Europe. Records indicate that this surname was also quite popular in Elsass, Germany, now Alsace, France. The name has spread across Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also increasingly common in England and the United States.
In the United States, the Reiff surname is especially popular in Pennsylvania, partly due to the influx of German settlers in the 1700s. Other than Pennsylvania, Reiff is also found in Ohio, Texas, New York, and Minnesota.
The Reiff surname is an ancient and noble one, particularly in Germany, and is well-known for its variants and spellings. While the surname may have originated with distinct families, today there is much intermixing throughout Europe due to migration. It is found in many countries and continues to spread as families move and migrate across continents.
Famous people with the name Reiff
- Lynn Reiff: Grammy-nominated country singer & songwriter
- John Reiff: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Tom Reiff: former player of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals
- Christy Reiff: American foil fencer
- Mark Reiff: former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Jeffrey Reiff: jazz saxophonist
- Nicole Reiff: eradicator of poverty, advocate for education, and former executive at Habitat for Humanity International
- Paul Reiff: American surfer and civil engineering professor
- Alan Reiff: professional poker player
- Maria Reiff: Hollywood celebrity hairstylist