Surname Reitzel - Meaning and Origin
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Reitzel: What does the surname Reitzel mean?
The last name Reitzel traces its origins back to Germany, likely to the region now known as the Rhineland-Palatinate. The surname itself is derived from "Ried" or "Rietzel," which itself is derived from the Old German word "rida," meaning "clearing" or "meadow." In the Middle Ages, most surnames were derived from people's occupations or physical attributes. This implies that the people who carried this name were originally farmers, or at least lived in rural areas of Germany.
In the U.S., the Reitzels have a long and distinguished history. Descendants of German immigrants like Gottfried Reitzel and Heinrich Reitzel, who arrived in the late 1700s, established themselves in Pennsylvania, where they were among the first inhabitants of the Germanna Colony. Later members of the family seminerved in the American Revolution, Civil War, and both World Wars.
Today, the Reitzel name continues to be a common surname in the United States, and it is also a popular name among German-Americans. In addition, members of the Reitzel family are scattered around the world, with some bearing the name in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisReitzel: Where does the name Reitzel come from?
The last name Reitzel is most common today in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the highest number of people with the last name Reitzel is in Pennsylvania, where it is the 750th most common last name. In Canada, the last name Reitzel is particularly concentrated in Ontario and Quebec, where it is the 485th and 676th most common name, respectively. It can also be found in pockets or small communities in other states and provinces throughout the continent.
In addition, the last name Reitzel has spread to other countries throughout the Western Hemisphere. It can be found in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela. Outside the Western Hemisphere, the surname Reitzel is relatively uncommon. However, it can be found in places like Germany, the Czech Republic, and – albeit less commonly – in other European countries.
Despite the Reitzel surname's commonly having Spanish beginnings, it is still a relatively uncommon last name today. The name derived from 'Reinaldo' is still in use, but it isn't as widespread as it once was.
Variations of the surname Reitzel
The Reitzel surname has a multitude of variants, spellings and surnames of a similar origin. Among others, these include Reichel, Reikel, Reichelmann, Reichelsdorf, Rietschl, Reinsel, Reinselm, Reintzel, Reintzem, Reintzel, Reinthal, Riezner, Rezner, Rezentes, Rizel, Rissel, Rycel, Reichl, Reichlin, Reischl, Reischlin, Reichle, Reichmann, and Reis.
The Reitzel surname is primarily German in origin. It is derived from the German word “reiz”, meaning “enclave” or “district” as the first bearers of this surname likely lived in small, distinct enclaves or districts. Thus, the name itself implies a place of origin.
In some cases, the variant Reitzel can come from a variety of given names. For example, the name Reitzel could originate from a diminutive form of the name “Rudolf” (Rudel/Rudl), the name Ritsert or its derivatives, and even the Biblical name “Reitsel”.
Variants of the Reitzel surname have spread to many different countries over the course of time. As such, variations can also be found in places like the United States, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, and France.
In addition, some variants of the Reitzel surname are used as a patronymic, such as “Reitzelmann”, “Reizeler”, or “Reitzeling” - when used as a patronymic the suffix -mann (or -er) was added to the end of the surname to indicate the origin of the name bearer.
Famous people with the name Reitzel
- Andy Reitzel: American professional golfer
- Dave Reitzel: Canadian and European NASCAR driver
- Kerry Reitzel: Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Marino Reitzel: Surinamese Racing driver
- Patty Reitzel: Canadian Paralympic athlete
- Bob Reitzel: Former Division I Football coach
- Brad Reitzel: Former member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Julie Reitzel: German Adventurer, TV entertainer, and presenter
- Carla Reitzel: Freestyle ski racer from Germany
- Paul Reitzel: Formal Major League Baseball pitcher and college baseball coach