Surname Reitz - Meaning and Origin

Discovering the Unexpected: A Journey Through My Reitz Lineage with the iGENEA DNA Test

I embarked on my iGENEA DNA test journey hoping to simply confirm my German roots but was presented with an array of surprising revelations. The test revealed not only Celtic roots but also connections to Western Asia, and an unexpected Jewish lineage, turning the Reitz family history into a captivating genealogical treasure hunt.

C. Reitz

Reitz: What does the surname Reitz mean?

The surname Reitz is of German origin and was first found in Bavaria, where this distinguished family was known for its contributions to the society and the local politics. The literal meaning of the name Reitz is "residence." It is believed that the name originated when the medieval people adopted the name of their residence as a surname.

Being of German origin, the Reitz family was known for having strong family values and economic stability. They valued their faith, traditions and were renowned for their military spirit, loyalty and ambition. Inhabitants of local cities of Bavaria, they were part of the upper middle class of the region. They were known to be well-respected and influential members in their local communities.

The Reitz family was known to be prolific, mainly because of their strong work ethics and their passsion for business. As such, some of the family members left Germany and moved to other countries to pursue their dreams and establish their families abroad.

With regards to the present day, the Reitz family is a strong international family with descendants all over Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and many other parts of the world. The members of this family are known to be easily identifiable due to their strong family ties, entrepreneurial spirit and their commitment to the family name. Today, the surname Reitz continues to signify a strong and proud family that seeks to achieve its goals and carry on honoring the long tradition of the name.

Reitz: Where does the name Reitz come from?

The last name Reitz is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Reitz is an occupational surname, meaning "innkeeper," originally derived from Middle High German. In Germany, the last name Reitz is most prominently associated with the Rhineland-Palatinate area.

The name is also noted in parts of the United States, in particular among those who trace their ancestry to German-American immigrants. It has a very high frequency in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin as a result of the 19th century mass migration of German and Scandinavian settlers to the area.

The name Reitz has also spread to other parts of the world, most notably Canada and South Africa. The South African branch of the Reitz family descends from German settlers who arrived in Cape Colony in the mid-19th century, and can primarily be found in the provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Free State.

Within Europe, the last name Reitz can also be found in countries such as The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Poland. Additionally, according to recent statistics, the name Reitz is particularly prevalent in several Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname.

Variations of the surname Reitz

The surname Reitz has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most popular variants include Reits, Reitzes, Reitzen, Reitzler, Rietz, Rytz, Retz, and Retzler. These variants are mainly found in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In some cases, the spelling may have changed due to immigration to other countries, such as the United States. It is also possible for variants to occur as a result of regional dialects, and various spellings can also exist in German-speaking countries due to some variations of the spelling of the same last name.

In German, the most common spelling of Reitz is Reits, which can also be spelled Reitzes, Reitzen, and Reitzler. In Austria, the common spelling is Rietz, while in Switzerland the common spelling is usually Rytz. In the United States, the spelling is generally Retz, while in other countries such as Poland, Retzler is a popular spelling.

Other German spellings related to the surname Reitz include Ries, Reis, Rietz, Reimers, Reibel, Reiber, and Reinert. In some cases, the surname Reitz may have also been changed to an English spelling such as Wreight, Rees, Reeks, or Rights. In addition, the name Reitz may also have changed to alternative surnames such as Reiter, Reither, Richter, Rieger, and others.

In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Reitz. These variants are found across different countries and regions and may have changed due to various regional dialects or immigration.

Famous people with the name Reitz

• Kirsten Reitz: Kirsten Reitz is an American actress. She has appeared in several films and television shows, such as Law & Order, 2 Broke Girls, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and Luke Cage.
• John Charles Reitz: John Charles Reitz was a legendary musician who played all over Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his violin performance of the old German tune, “Die Gedanken sind frei.”
• Max Reitz: Max Reitz is a German racing driver and motoring journalist. He is a five-time winner in the 24 Hours of LeMans, as well as a former winner of the German Karting Championship.
• Larry Reitz: Larry Reitz is a retired American football player. He played college football for the Florida State University Seminoles before going on to play professionally for the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles.
• Paul J. Reitz: Paul J. Reitz was an American politician. He served as Pennsylvania's 10th Lieutenant Governor, as well as in the United States House of Representatives from 1905 to 1913.
• Bill Reitz: Bill Reitz was an American professional golfer who won several tour events. He is best remembered for his success on the PGA Tour in the 1950s.
• Adi Reitz: Adi Reitz is an Israeli film and television actor. He has appeared in a number of Israeli treatments, including The Gatekeepers, Lemon Tree, and West Bank Coffee Shop.
• Lothar Reitz: Lothar Reitz was an German mathematician and physicist. He is best known for his work on quantum mechanics and nuclear fusion.

Other surnames

ReitenspiesReitenspiessReitenspießReiterReitererReitersReithReitherReithmaierReithmairReithmayerReithmayrReithmeierReithmeirReithmeyerReithmeyrReitingerReitmaierReitmairReitmajerReitmayerReitmayrReitmeierReitmeirReitmeyerReitschmidtReitschmiedReitspiessReitspieß

Comments or additions to the name "Reitz"

28.12.2023
Think you're a Reitz? Check out "Reitz and variants Y-DNA Surname Project at FamilyTree DNA:
https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/reitz-and-variants/dna-results

One objective is to determine which of these families are related to another, and to help identify and align relationships between German/Swiss/Dutch families and the many emigrants to American and elsewhere.

Expected surnames include the following, but any others who are genetic matches are encouraged to join.
1 Raetz
2 Raitz
3 Rates
4 Reetz
5 Reights
6 Reits
7 Reitz
8 Reitze
9 Reitzel
10 Reitzes
11 Reitzi
12 Reitzle
13 Reutz
14 Rietz
15 Rights
16 Rites
17 Ritz
18 Wreitz
19 Wrights