Surname Riepelmeier - Meaning and Origin

Riepelmeier: What does the surname Riepelmeier mean?

The surname Riepelmeier has Germanic origins, derived from the words "Ripen" and "Meier" which were originally separate surnames. The word "Ripen" is an old German term for a council or assembly from which the term "Ripenmeister" is derived which is thought to be the origin of the first part of the surname Riepelmeier. "Meier" is derived from the Latin word "major", meaning great or large, which was used to denote a peasant landowner or farmer.

The two surnames were combined to form Riepelmeier, and it is believed that this merging occurred in the early years of the 1600s in Germany. The name was then likely used to identify a family who combined the two occupations of being a landowner and being involved in local assemblies.

Since the name is still in use today, it can be surmised that the Riepelmeier family has a long history in Germany, and was likely one of the first to take on the German version of the surname. This long historical line can be traced to their modern descendants, and serves as a reminder of their roots and their continued commitment to the Riepelmeier legacy.

Riepelmeier: Where does the name Riepelmeier come from?

The last name Riepelmeier is most common in Germany today. According to recent records, it is the 705th most common surname in the country, with more than 27,400 people bearing the name. The name is also found in the Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia, and the United States. It is most likely of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "Riep," meaning "strong," and "Pelm," meaning "crossroads."

The Riepelmeier family is known in Germany for its strong religious faith, especially Catholicism. Many members of the family have been priests, nuns, or have dedicated themselves to charitable work. In some parts of Germany, members of the Riepelmeier family have been honored as local heroes of faith, often donating time or money to help the needy in their community.

In the United States, the Riepelmeier family mostly settled in the American Midwest, specifically Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. In other countries such as Austria, Canada, and Cuba, the name has also gained some traction.

Generally, the Riepelmeier family is a respected and close-knit family, with strong ties to religious faith and giving back to the community. Over time, like many surnames, its geographical distribution has shifted, but its roots are still held in Germany.

Variations of the surname Riepelmeier

The most commonly seen variants, spellings, and surnames for the origin of the surname Riepelmeier are Riebelmeir, Riebelmaier, Riepel Meier, Riepel Meir, Riepel Meiers, Riepel Meiere, Riebel Maier, Riebel Meyer, Riebelsmeier, Riepelmeyer, Riepelmaier, and Riepelmair.

Riepelmeier is derived from the German word "Riebel", which can be used to describe a small animal caught in a trap, or a small person caught in a difficulty. In Old German, "meier" was an occupational title, referring to someone who handled a tenant's farm and shared the yield.

The surname is made up of two elements which signify two layers of dense bushes or thickets - "Riebel" and "meier". The spelling was altered over time, with the earlier variant being "Riefelmeir", which evolved to become "Riepelmeir", and later into the modern form "Riepelmeier".

Due to the variation in spelling of the surname, some alternative surnames derived from Riepelmeier include Riebelmair, Ribelmayer, Ribelmayr, Ribelmair, and Riepelmayer.

In the United States, one of the earliest records of the surname is in 1776 when Michael Riepelmeier is listed in the records as a Parliament Member of York County, Pennsylvania. There are also records of the surname, Riebelmaier, appearing in the late 19th century in Wisconsin.

The surname Riepelmeier is quite rare, with only a handful of records and persons being documented with this name. However, due to the many variations and spelling variants of this surname, more persons related to this family may be found under the other surnames and variants of this name.

Famous people with the name Riepelmeier

• Karl-Heinz Riepelmeier: former German football player
• Berthold Riepelmeier: former German middle-distance runner
• Hermann Riepelmeier: German sculptor
• Julian Riepelmeier: German athlete
• Philip Riepelmeier: German Boulderer
• Hans Riepelmeier: German long-distance runner
• Horst Riepelmeier: German alpine skier
• Maximo Riepelmeier: former German sprint canoer
• Elmar Riepelmeier: German rower
• Boris Riepelmeier: German footballer

Other surnames

Riepelmeyer