Surname Renftle - Meaning and Origin
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Renftle: What does the surname Renftle mean?
The last name Renftle is of German origin. The name is derived from the personal name Reinhold or Reinold, which is composed of two Old German elements, "Rein" meaning "advice" and "hold" meaning "brave, strong". The name is thought to have first originated from areas of Germany.
In Germany, the name Renftle is a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived among a field of rye grass, derived from the Middle High German "renftel" meaning "rye field". The name thus indicates that the initial bearer of the surname lived in or near a rye field.
Through the years, members of the Renftle family have broken off and immigrants have migrated to locations around the world. This has led to the surname being located in many countries, regions, and states including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Renftle is generally an uncommon surname. However, there have been notable persons with the name. For example, John Renftle operated a saloon and was a leader of the Jackson County, Wisconsin Democratic Party. Charles Renftle was an American Representative who was elected to Congress, representing Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional district, from 1953 to 1959. During his stint in Congress, he served on both the Public Works and Armed Services Committees.
Overall, the meaning of the last name Renftle symbolizes bravery and courage, attributes that have been highly admired throughout the years. Those who have taken the name have admired its connotations of strength and chivalry and have often place their own personal spin on the name through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisRenftle: Where does the name Renftle come from?
The surname Renftle is a toponymic surname referring to someone who originated from the Rhine Valley in Germany. The surname is likely derived from the German given name Reinfrid, which was a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "ragin," meaning counsel and "frid," meaning peace.
Today, some people with the last name Renftle can be found in many areas of Germany and Europe. The highest concentration is in the southwest and central regions of Germany, particularly in the states of Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saarland. This area has the highest concentration of Renftles due to the Rhine Valley's proximity.
Outside of Germany, the surname can be found in Austria, Switzerland, and Czech Republic, as well as small numbers in France, Denmark, Italy, and Hungary.
The surname was also found in the United States in the late 1800s, primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. As German immigrants moved to new parts of the US, the surname moved with them, appearing in California, Texas, and even Hawaii during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the surname can be found in most states throughout the US, although the highest concentration is still in the Midwest. As German immigrants moved further and further away from the original Rhine Valley, variations of the name also began to appear, including Ranftle, Ranft, Reanft, and Reinftle.
Variations of the surname Renftle
Renftle is a surname of German origin, possibly derived from the Middle High German words renge and vilt, which together mean “strong will”. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Renfel, Ranftle, Ranfel, Ranftel, Ranfel, Rensfel, Runftle, Runfel, Runftel, and Runfel.
Ranftle uses the suffix of -tle which is a variant spelling of -tel, which is a diminutive suffix commonly used in German surnames and many other European surnames denoting a “small” or “little” version of the original root word. That original root word could’ve also been Ranft based on the same suffix -tle but with a more standard spelling.
Variants of Renftle such as Rensfel and Ransfel could’ve been created by a combination of the root words renge and vilt being mixed with the -sel suffix, which was commonly used by Germanic surnames to denote the “son of” the original root.
Ranftel also has its own variant spelling, Runftel. This combination of the root words range and vilt with the -el suffix (which is another variant of -sel) would once again denote the “son of” the original root. Variants of Runftel, such as Runft and Runfel, may also exist, with the latter being a combination of the root words and the -el suffix.
In conclusion, Renftle is a German surname of possibly derived from the Middle High German words renge and vilt meaning “strong will”. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for this surname include Renfel, Ranftle, Ranfel, Ranftel, Ranfel, Rensfel, Runftle, Runfel, Runftel, and Runfel.
Famous people with the name Renftle
- Mike Renftle: a renowned professional snowboarder
- Budd Renftle: a former pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Nelson Renftle: Cover artist for DC Comics, Marvel Comics and other major comic publishers
- Mike Renftle: a retired Canadian Football League offensive lineman
- Jim Renftle: Former pro ski jumper and official US Ski Association coach
- Joseph Renftle: a radio personality and voice actor
- Nathan Renftle: an actor best known for appearing in the films of Johnnie To
- Jordan Renftle: an Australian actor best known for his work in the TV series Winners & Losers
- John Renftle: the former president of the National Motorcycle Museum
- Carl Renftle: a professional wrestler and trainer