Surname Risdorf - Meaning and Origin

Risdorf: What does the surname Risdorf mean?

The last name Risdorf is a German locational surname. It is derived from a place-name that was first attested in 1317 as ‘Ris dorff’, located in the Eastern part of the historic region of Westphalia. The name literally means ‘reed’s village’ or ‘reed’s court’, coming from the Old High German word ‘risa’ meaning ‘reed’ and ’dorf’ which translates to ‘village’ or ‘court’. It was most likely chosen as a surname by someone who lived there or who hailed from there.

Historically, the town of Risdorf has had a few other names such as disclose, Wiersdorff, and Westerhof. It is located within the city limits of Datteln and is a part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a small agricultural town centered around farming and milling activities.

The surname Risdorf has spread all over the world through immigration. It is the 21,679th most common last name in the United States. It can be found in the records of passengers on ships travelling between Europe and the New World. The name Risdorf can also be found in the records of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries that immigrants settled in.

The name Risdorf continues to be held by individuals living in various parts of the world today. It is a reminder of the geography and history from which the family originated.

Risdorf: Where does the name Risdorf come from?

The last name Risdorf is most common in Germany today. According to a recent study, it ranks 10,334th in terms of popularity, with an estimated 3,039 people carrying the name countrywide. It is most often found in the western and northern parts of Germany such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Hamburg, as well as the eastern region of Saxony.

The last name Risdorf first appears in written records in the late 1500s in the Lower Rhine region of what is now the modern state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It likely originated from a place name, derived from a combination of the words "ris" (brushwood) and "dorf" (village).

The Risdorf family has a long and rich history. Some members relocated to the United States and other countries during the 19th and 20th centuries while others stayed in Germany. The last name continues to be carried by the various branches of the family across the world today, most notably in Germany.

Variations of the surname Risdorf

The surname Risdorf is an old German name that is found in the eastern parts of Germany. It is found mainly in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria. The variants and spellings of this surname are Ritzdorf, Ritzdorff, Ritsdorf, Risdorf, Risdorff, and Risdorfer.

The Risdorf name has been around since the early Middle Ages. At that time, the name likely referred to someone who came from a place called Risdorf, which is now located in Rhineland-Palatinate. Over the centuries, this surname has been passed down the generations, and it has become a common surname that can be found in many parts of Germany.

The variant forms that have been associated with this surname typically start with either ‘Ritz’ or ‘Ris’. So, a person with the surname Risdorf could have Ritzdorf, Ritzdorff, Ritsdorf, Risdorf, Risdorff, or Risdorfer as a variant.

There are also a few surnames that have been derived from the Risdorf surname, like Korris or Korrisdorff, which are both formed by adding the name 'Korris' to the surname. But this surname has not been widely adopted and is not found often.

Another variant that is associated with this surname is Riest, which is a shortened form of Risdorf. However, this surname has not been used as widely as the other variants.

In general, the Risdorf name is not particularly common and is not found in many parts of Germany. However, the variant forms are somewhat more popular and can be found in many parts of Germany.

Famous people with the name Risdorf

• Henryk Risdorf, German actor
• Oliver Risdorf, German footballer
• Wilfried Risdorf, German-Brazilian footballer
• Nadine Risdorf, German beach volleyball player
• Douglas Risdorf, American tennis player
• Carsten Risdorf, German footballer
• Björn Risdorf, German volleyball player
• Dieter Risdorf, German footballer
• Daniel Risdorf, German ice hockey player
• Stefan Risdorf, German footballer
• Torsten Risdorf, German boxer
• Erich Risdorf, German pastor
• Herbert Risdorf, German organist
• Harald Risdorf, German footballer
• Friedrich Risdorf, German magistrate
• Joachim Risdorf, German radiologist
• Arnold Risdorf, German carpentry expert
• Heiner Risdorf, German business executive
• Günter Risdorf, German footballer
• Christoph Risdorf, German writer

Other surnames

RisdorpRisdorph