Surname Reitmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Reitmeyer: What does the surname Reitmeyer mean?
The last name Reitmeyer is a German name, derived from the Middle High German 'reiten' meaning 'to ride'. This name would have been given to an individual involved in work and transport related to horses, such as a stableman, a coachman, or a farrier. It may also have been adopted as a surname to signify important individuals in a village, whose duties involved maintaining a kind of watch on the roads and paths.
The exact origin of the Reitmeyer name is difficult to trace with certainty, due to the lack of documents which survive from the period. However, it is likely that the Reitmeyer family originated in the Rhineland, an area of Germany containing some of the oldest towns in the country. Records show settlements existed in the region as early as the 8th century – which is when the family name is thought to have been adopted.
Today, it is still common to find people with the Reitmeyer surname living in the western part of Germany, while others with the name have moved to the United States and other countries of the world. While the meaning of the Reitmeyer name may have been connected to a historical trade, many people choose to use the name now as a reminder of their ancestry and of the courage and determination of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisReitmeyer: Where does the name Reitmeyer come from?
The last name Reitmeyer is often found in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, the name can be found primarily in the Midwest and Northeast regions. Research indicates that the Reitmeyer surname began as a patronymic, originating from the Germanic word "reit," meaning "horseman" or "rider."
The largest population of Reitmeyers in the United States is located in Pennsylvania, where 142 individuals of this surname are documented in the US 2020 Census. Other large groups of Reitmeyers reside in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Illinois. Although most of these households are located in rural areas or small towns, there are still considerable concentrations of people with the Reitmeyer surname in larger metropolitan cities such as Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Chicago.
Outside of the United States, the distribution of the Reitmeyer surname is largely concentrated within Germany, with well over 1,200 individuals carrying this name. Smaller populations of Reitmeyers are also located in the neighboring countries of Austria and Switzerland, indicating that the Reitmeyer family may have migrated to these countries long ago.
Overall, the last name Reitmeyer has always been closely associated with European countries and can still be found in these areas today.
Variations of the surname Reitmeyer
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Reitmeyer are Reitmeier, Rietmeyer, Rietmeir, Rietmeier, Retmeyer, Retmeier, Retmeir, Reitmair, Retmair and Reitmaier. All of these variants have the same origin, which is the German language.
The surname Reitmeyer comes from German words "Ride", "a horseman", "someone who is a horse-rider" and "Mayer" an occupational name meaning "steward" or "mayor". Literally, the name translates as 'the horseman steward'.
The variation of the name Retmeyer is slightly different from Reitmeyer and is an adaptation of a German word, Rotmeiher, which means “red maize” or “cornfield”.
Reitmaier is another variation on Reitmeyer, but it is derived from an old German word, Reitmare, which means "rider on a mare".
The Rietmeyer and Rietmeir variants of the surname Reitmeyer come from an older spelling of the same name, which was spelled Ritmeye.
Reitmair is an adaptation of the old German word, Ritmair, meaning a horse rider or "coachman".
Finally, Retmeier and Retmeir are shortened versions of the surname that come from an older variation, Réitmair, which is an adaptation of the German words réiten ("to ride on horseback") and mair ("maid").
All of the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Reitmeyer carry the same meaning and come from the same origin, which is the German language.
Famous people with the name Reitmeyer
- Keith Reitmeyer: well-known Hollywood actor and stand-up comedian.
- Ralph Reitmeyer: a professional American golfer of the mid-20th century.
- Jennifer Reitmeyer: composer who won a 2018 independent film award for her score on the short film “Invisible”.
- Rebecca Reitmeyer: esteemed New York based attorney and civil rights activist.
- Steve Reitmeyer: a notable banker who was the president of the National Bank of America in California.
- Joseph Reitmeyer: a lesser-known professional wrestler in the mid-1960s who competed in the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
- James Reitmeyer: a celebrated Marine Corps Major General, author, and consultant.
- Günther Reitmeyer: German industrialist who founded a successful family conglomerate in the 1940s.
- Helene Reitmeyer: an outgoing Austrian stage actress and former teacher.
- David Reitmeyer: U.S. ambassador to Puerto Rico and subsequent governor from 1969 to 1971.