Surname Reintgens - Meaning and Origin
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Reintgens: What does the surname Reintgens mean?
The last name Reintgens is of German origin, deriving from the personal name Reinardus, which was itself derived from two elements – 'ragin', meaning 'advice', and 'hard', meaning 'strong'. The surname came into use during medieval times, when surnames began to be adopted as hereditary titles of nobility. It is thought that the family originated in Westphalia (in what is now Germany), where they had held a family seat since ancient times. Throughout their history, they were a prominent family of great wealth and influence, and held a number of positions of power in the region.
Today, the surname Reintgens is still in use mainly in the northern part of Germany. It is used as both a given name and a surname, and is considered to be a true German surname, with a sense of dignity and importance associated with it. Those who bear the last name Reintgens are likely proud of their ancestry, and may take pride in the fact that their name has been around since the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisReintgens: Where does the name Reintgens come from?
The last name Reintgens is most commonly found today in Germany and surrounding countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. It is not a particularly common last name in any of these countries, but its prevalence is higher there than in other areas.
In Germany itself, Reintgens is most commonly found in the western part of the country and is especially prevalent in the cities of Cologne and Dortmund. It is also found in the nearby Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia regions, as well as parts of Saxony and Bavaria.
Outside of Germany, Reintgens is found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. The vast majority of Reintgens living outside Germany live in the Netherlands.
In the United States, Reintgens is a less common last name. Those with this name in America are usually descendents of German immigrants who moved to the country as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries.
Overall, the last name Reintgens is most heavily concentrated in western Germany and parts of the neighboring countries. It is, however, much less common in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Reintgens
Reintgens is a Germanic surname, deriving from a combination of the patronymic element ‘Rein’ (meaning ‘strong’) and the suffix ‘-ing’ (meaning ‘son of’). It is most commonly spelt in its original form but can sometimes be found spelled as Rinthgens, Reinigens, Reyntgeens or Reinssen. Variants of this surname include Reingens, Reintgess, Rintgens, Renger, Raines, Reinhardt and Renz.
Surnames of similar origins to Reintgens can include Reimers, Reineke, Reimgens, Reinkes, Reinhold, Reiss, Reiniger and Reuschel.
The most common spelling of Reintgens is present in countries throughout the world today, in its many incarnations. In Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, Reintgens is the most common spelling. In the United States however, the more anglized spelling of Raines is popular.
Despite originating from the same source, each of these surnames stand as separate entities on their own. This can be seen through the numerous variations in spelling as well as their spread across different nations.
Finally, some Reintgens descendants have the right to use the coat of arms specific to this surname. This is seen as a sign of nobility and is a source of pride for them, further reinforcing the importance of the Reintgens name.
Famous people with the name Reintgens
- Jens Reintjes: German football manager, last managed FC Vaduz in the Swiss Super League.
- Jos Reintjens: Dutch professional football player, known for playing for teams such as Go Ahead Eagles and FC Volendam.
- Peter Reintjens: New Zealand cricketer, played for New Zealand in the 1950s.
- Chris Reintjens: Canadian stand-up comedian, featured on television shows “Just for Laughs” and “Comedy Now”.
- Ilse Reintjens: Dutch politician, was part of the parliamentary party of the Christian Democratic Union from 2002-2008.
- Jean Reintjens: Belgian painter, best known for his still life and landscape paintings.
- Karl Reintjens: Swiss ski-jumper, won a bronze medal in the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France.
- Floris Reintjens: Dutch politician, was a Member of the House of Representatives from 2003-2006.
- Franz Reintjens: German army officer of World War II, known for his active role in the battle of Monte Cassino.
- Johan Reintjens: Belgian physicist, was a professor of physics at University of Antwerp.