Surname Riemeschneider - Meaning and Origin
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Riemeschneider: What does the surname Riemeschneider mean?
The surname Riemeschneider is of German origin and is derived from the words "rie", meaning clearing, and "meischneider", meaning wood cutter. The name is believed to have originally been a nickname for someone who worked as a clearcutter or wood cutter.
The name could have evolved from the many occupations held by families during the medieval times in Germany, when the sweeter chalk soils or “Riesen,” were cleared creating areas of cultivation or “Riemes.” This was done by peasants or woodcutters who were known to cut and trim wood for use in construction work or house-building.
The name could also refer to someone who lived by the Reim river in the German regions of Bavaria and Swabia. There, inhabitants were involved in the harvesting of timber for shipbuilding in the 15th century.
The descendants of the original families continue to live in the cities of Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg. There are some records pertaining to the name being changed or modified to Reimenschneider and Reimannsmann in order to fit the local language.
Overall, the last name, Riemeschneider, is an apt description of a wood cutter, tracing its roots in Bavarian and Swabian history. The extensive history of this family name proves it to be a unique German heritage that has stood the test of time.
Order DNA origin analysisRiemeschneider: Where does the name Riemeschneider come from?
The last name Riemeschneider is most commonly found in Germany today. Reimeschneider is a German surname that translates to “timber-cutter” or “sawyer” in English. This surname is most common in the Bavarian region of Germany, particularly the Free State of Bavaria, where it ranks in the top 500 surnames in the entire country.
The Riemeschneider surname first originated primarily in Bavaria and then spread to other parts of Germany as people with this surname emigrated to other regions. Some people with the Riemeschneider surname have also been found in Austria, Switzerland and other parts of Europe, as well as the United States and other countries around the world due to the impact of immigration and population movement throughout history.
It is not known exactly how far back this surname goes, but historical records have been found for some families with the Riemeschneider surname as far back as the early 1600s. Since then, the surname has continued to be used in German-speaking countries, contributing to its continued presence in Bavaria today.
Variations of the surname Riemeschneider
The surname Riemeschneider is derived from the German word “Rieme”, which means “a belt or strap”. Variants and spellings of this surname may include Riemerschneider, Riemashneider, Riemerschneider, Riemansneider, Reimerschneider, Reymertschneider, Riemerschnyder, and Reimerschneider.
The surname has also been found in other dialects, such as Dutch, Low German, and Swiss German. In Dutch it can be found as Reimerschnieder and Reimerschneider. The Low German variants of the surname are Reimerschnieder, Reimerschnyder, Reimashneider, Reymerschnyder, Reimerschnieder, Reimerschnyer, and Reimerschneyer. In Swiss German, it can be found as Riimerschneider.
Surnames of a similar origin include Reimers, Reimer, Reemers, Reim, Reamer, Rehmer, Reimerscheider, Reimerscheider, Heimerscheider, and Heimersheid.
Riemerscheider, Reemerschneider, Reimer, and Heimerscheider can also be found amongst the Amish and Mennonites of Pennsylvania and other nearby states. In addition, branches of the family can likely be located all throughout Europe. Further research of the surname typically reveals more variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Riemeschneider
- Philipp Riemenschneider (1460–1531), master sculptor of the Late Gothic period who worked in Germany
- Volker Riemenschneider (born 1936), German film and TV director
- Max Riemenschneider (1900–1974), German painter
- Karl Riemenschneider (1902–1978), German violinist
- Hugo Riemenschneider (1869–1961), German botanist
- Esther Riemenschneider (1893–1985), German mathematician
- Leopold Riemenschneider (1823–1914), German-American printer, publisher and editor
- Arnold Riemenschneider (1910–1992), German cyclist
- Peter Riemenschneider (born 1973), German politician
- Hubert Riemenschneider (born 1967), Austrian water polo player