Surname von Reichel - Meaning and Origin
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von Reichel: What does the surname von Reichel mean?
The last name von Reichel originates from German-speaking countries and is thought to come from the German words "von" and "Reich", meaning "of the realm" or "of the empire". During the Middle Ages, families with this surname likely had connections to nobility.
Today, the meaning of von Reichel is difficult to pinpoint because it has many possible origins. It could be derived from a place name or a personal name, or be an occupational name that describes someone who lived within the boundaries of a lord's castle or estate.
In addition to its possible divinity connections, von Reichel could also refer to a person or family that was prominent or powerful in society. It could be used to represent either economic or political power.
The von Reichel surname has many variations including von Reichens, von Reichenbach, and von Reicker. Throughout its varied forms, the name is still an indication of status and power within German culture. Once used to describe people close to royalty, it is now used by many different families around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Reichel: Where does the name von Reichel come from?
The surname von Reichel is a German surname, and is therefore most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and other countries with strong German cultural influences. To date, there is no concrete evidence as to the origins of this surname, though it is speculated that it possibly first appeared in medieval Germany and was inherited from noble families of the time. At present, the people who bear this surname are likely to live in Germany, mainly in Bavaria, or in Alsace, a region historically divided between France and Germany along the Rhine river.
In the United States, according to genealogical records, von Reichel has been carried by immigrants since the mid-19th century. Though scattered across the country, some families have gone on to settle in more concentrated areas, specifically in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Nowadays, the von Reichel family continues to spread throughout the world and it can be found in countries such as Canada, Israel, Australia, Mexico, England, and even India. In these countries, von Reichel is likely to be fairly rare—given the fact that the emigration of German peoples to these countries have been small in comparison to other European nationalities—though a few family members can be located in various locations.
Overall, the surname von Reichel is particularly common in German-speaking countries, though it can be found in many other parts of the world. Its presence suggests a long and diverse family history, and a proud tradition of passing on its legacy through generations of Reichels.
Variations of the surname von Reichel
The surname von Reichel has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Reichel, Riechel, Reichl, Riegel, Riechl, Reichle, Reigel and Reich. These variant spellings are often found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other German-speaking countries.
The most common variant of von Reichel is Reichel, which is typically found in an unaltered form but can also be changed to Reichl with an additional “h” or with the addition of additional consonants such as “g” or “gl.” Reichel can also be found with the suffix “er” (e.g. Reicheler) to denote an entire family with the same surname. An additional “e” can also be added to Reichel and Reichl to form Riechel and Riegel respectively.
Similarly, Reichel can be changed to the more German-sounding Riechl which is usually found with no additional letters added or suffixes, but “er” and “el” are sometimes added as a suffix to the name.
The variants Reichle and Reigel are rarely found, but still retain the same origin as von Reichel. All of the aforementioned variants can also be combined with “von” to indicate a noble lineage; for example, von Reichel, von Riechel, von Reichl, von Riegel, von Riechl, von Reichle, von Reigel and von Reich.
Whichever variant of von Reichel is chosen, they all carry the same origin.
Famous people with the name von Reichel
- Armin Von Reichel: a German songwriter and record producer. He has written for many acts including Peter Maffay, Fury in the Slaughterhouse, and Marquess.
- Erich Von Reichel: a German lawyer and high-ranking Nazi official. He served as the head of legal policy in the Nazi regime.
- Gertrud Von Reichel: a German baroness who authored several novels and also wrote a novella about her aunt. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Thomas Von Reichel: a German television presenter and journalist who worked for a variety of networks including ZDF and N24.
- Franz Von Reichel: a German politician and former member of the Bundestag. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and later the Free Democratic Party.
- Walter Von Reichel: a German journalist, editor, and historian who wrote extensively about the Second World War. He was also the editor-in-chief of the German weekly magazine Der Spiegel.
- Heinrich Von Reichel: a German theologian, historian, and teacher who wrote about the Holocaust and Jewish history. He also wrote several books and essays on Jewish topics.
- Peter Von Reichel: a German screenwriter who wrote for several television series including Big Brother.
- Abel Von Reichel: a German doctor and writer who wrote extensively about the life and works of Otto von Bismarck.
- August Von Reichel: an Austrian doctor and politician who was a member of the Imperial Council. He was also a co-founder of the Viennese newspaper Neue Freie Presse.