Surname Rziha - Meaning and Origin

Rziha: What does the surname Rziha mean?

The last name Rziha is of Polish origin and is believed to be an occupational surname derived from a nickname. It is thought to mean “blacksmith” and came into use when surnames became common in the country during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known mention of the surname is in the 16th century. It was found recorded in the 16th century in the Silesian town of Rybnik. Later references to the name have been found in the records of Krakow and Lublin.

The Rziha surname is quite common throughout Poland today, and can be found in many variations such as Rzih, Rziy, and Ryh. It is also found outside of Poland in countries like Ukraine and the United States.

The Rziha name has changed considerably over the centuries, as many Poles changed their spelling after immigration to countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia during the 20th century.

Today, Rziha is a popular surname that continues to be used by both Polish and non-Polish people worldwide. It is not only a reminder of one’s family history, but also a mark of tradition, pride, and respect.

Rziha: Where does the name Rziha come from?

The last name Rziha is most common today in central and eastern Europe, particularly in the countries of Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. In the Czech Republic, the name Rziha is the 519th most popular last name, with 3,945 people bearing the name as of 2020. In Slovakia, the name is more popular, ranking 177th most common, with 8,226 people bearing the name.

In Poland, the name is much less frequent, at 2,480 people with the name as of 2015. Interestingly, the name is also on the rise in the Berber-Arab area in North Africa. This can be largely attributed to studies showing that a significant number of Czech Romanis have migrated to Morocco, which could explain the presence of the name in that region.

Outside of Europe, Rziha is most present in Canada, United States, Australia, and Brazil. However, these pockets have significantly less speakers of the name than those in Europe, as the name is more commonly used in central and eastern Europe due to its geographical proximity to this area.

Variations of the surname Rziha

The surname Rziha is a surname of Austrian, Czech, German, and Slovakian origin. Spellings, variants and other surnames of the same origin include:

1. Rziháček/Rzicka - This variant is of Czech origin and is derived from the diminutive of the surname Rzihák which itself is derived from the word čiha, meaning to gaze.

2. Rzyha/Ryha - This variant is of German origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

3. Reziha - This variant is of Slovakian and Ukrainian origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

4. Rzihol/Rzihal - This variant is of Czech origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

5. Reizha/Reyzha - This variant is of Polish origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

6. Rziykh/Rziyokh - This variant is of Ukrainian origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

7. Rziha - This variant is of Austrian origin and is derived from the root Rziha.

All variants of this surname are rooted in the term 'czihanort' which was the name of a mountain in what is now modern-day Slovakia. The different variants of the surname evolved over time in different regions and languages. The variants Rziháček/Rzicka, Rzyha/Ryha, Reziha, Rzihol/Rzihal, Reizha/Reyzha and Rziykh/Rziyokh however, are mostly of Slavic origin and evolved from the language of the former Slavic tribes that settled there after migrating from Ukraine approximately 1000 years ago.

Famous people with the name Rziha

• Jennifer Rziha, American Television Host
• Oliver Rziha, German footballer
• Ron Rziha, American football player
• Nicholas Rziha, American historian
• Art Rziha, American Navy veteran and professional baseball player
• Florian Rziha, Austrian wrestler
• Slato Rziha, Slovenian opera singer
• Donald Rziha, American aerospace scientist
• Jordan Rziha, American mixed martial arts fighter
• Paul Rziha, Austrian professional soccer player
• William Rziha, American television director
• Anton Rziha, American football coach
• Val Nujs Rziha, Slovenian writer
• Brigid Rziha, Ukrainian-American dancer, theatre instructor, and arts advocate
• Christine Rziha, American small business owner
• Tom Rziha, American football player and coach
• Nelli Rziha, Latvian dancer
• Vince Rziha, American professional ice hockey player
• Uwe Rziha, German game designer
• John Rziha, American musician and songwriter

Other surnames

Rzihacek