Surname Reinders - Meaning and Origin

Reinders: What does the surname Reinders mean?

The last name Reinders is an occupational surname originating from Holland. It is derived from the medieval profession of a “reindeer herder”, thus the original meaning of the surname is one who herded reindeer. As reindeer are not native to Holland, it is believed that those who bore the last name Reinders were among the first to migrate to Holland, likely coming from other parts of Europe with reindeer herding being a prominent profession where they came from.

The surname is found mainly in the Netherlands, Germany, and other areas of northern Europe. It is also thought to be common among the Barnsteampaolers, the Dutch who eventually migrated to America. The Reinders family who migrated to the United States were among those who eventually settled in the Great Lakes region and took to farming.

The Reinders family name has a long history with the surname being the subject of several books, films, and articles in Dutch. Many Reinders have become famous, among them Harrie Reinders, who served as the first mayor of Ede, the Netherlands, and bartender Toot Reinders.

Today, the last name Reinders continues to be seen throughout Europe and in parts of North America. Though its original meaning is no longer widely understood, the Reinders family is still proud of its longstanding family history, and the surname is one that is highly regarded across many cultures and countries.

Reinders: Where does the name Reinders come from?

The last name Reinders is most commonly seen today in the Netherlands and Germany, two of the top countries of origin for this surname. It is also common in other Dutch-speaking countries, such as Belgium, Luxembourg, and Suriname, as well as in Germany's close neighbors, Denmark and Switzerland.

The name Reinders is thought to have derived from the Germanic elements "rano", meaning "counsel", and "hard", meaning strong. Many families bearing this surname migrated to the Low Countries, the areas which now make up the Netherlands and Belgium, during the 16th century. It is estimated that between 30-40% of the current population of the Netherlands have some sort of connection to the Reinders family.

In modern Germany, the Reinders surname is most likely a variation of the Rinders, however, the exact etymology of the two differs slightly. Though the Rinders surname is of Germanic origin, it counts its origin to the Middle Ages and describes people who worked with cattle or were a veterinarian.

Throughout Europe, Reinders now have established ancestries from the Netherlands to Germany to other areas throughout the continent. This surname is seen in a variety of countries and is a testament to how nomadic families migrated and moved throughout Europe, adapting along the way.

Variations of the surname Reinders

The surname Reinders has a few different spellings and variants, as well as a few surnames with similar origins. The most common alternative spellings are Reyners, Reyniers, Reniers, and Renards. All of these spellings are derived from a form of the Old German name Rainhard or Reinhard, which may contain elements like “rain,” “power,” “counsel,” and “decision.”

Another surname with similar origins to Reinders is Reiniger, which derived from an Old German nickname meaning “strong” or “valiant.”

Related surnames include Reindel, Reindl, Reindler, and Reisner, which are all derived from a similar Old German name. Reindler could be derived from a diminutive form of Reinhard, while Reindel is derived from the Old German name Reino. Reindl and Reisner could both originate from the name Reinwald, formed from the Germanic elements “rain” and “decision.”

Other related surnames include Reinhardt, Reinhart, and Renke. Reinhardt and Reinhart are both derived from the Old German name Reinhard, while Renke is derived from the Old German name Rencke.

Finally, the surname Redinger could derived from a verb meaning “to render judgement,” while Rendel was derived from the Old German name Randolf, which means “shield wolf.”

Overall, the Reinders surname is derived from Old German names and can have numerous variants and related surnames. These surnames can all be traced back to similar elements, such as “rain,” “power,” or “decision.”

Famous people with the name Reinders

• Yvonne Reinders: Dutch musician and composer.
• Fred Reinders: Dutch professional cyclist.
• Jan Reinders: Netherlands international footballer.
• Benjamin Reinders: Dutch author.
• Frans Reinders: Dutch broadcast journalist.
• Ab Reinders: Dutch Art director and graphic designer.
• Piet Reinders: Dutch politician.
• Rob Reinders: Dutch entrepreneur.
• Lambertus Reinders: Dutch backgammon player and business man.
• Geert Reinders: Dutch volleyball player.
• Jeroen Reinders: Dutch football player and manager.
• Paul Reinders: Dutch film director.
• Peter Reinders: Dutch film producer.
• Willem Reinders: Dutch eco-designer.
• Frank Reinders: Dutch football coach.
• Wouter Reinders: Dutch professional football player.
• Régis Reinders: Dutch bicyclist.
• Sipke Reinders: Dutch football manager.
• Thijs Reinders: Dutch professional cyclist.
• Willem Reinders: Dutch basketball player.

Other surnames

ReindelReindell