Surname Rieff - Meaning and Origin
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Rieff: What does the surname Rieff mean?
The last name Rieff is primarily of German origin. Analogous to most European surnames, it is likely based on an occupation, a geographic location, or a personal characteristic. However, the exact meaning of the surname Rieff is not clearly documented or widely agreed upon. Variations of this name appear across Germany, Netherlands, and Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Additionally, Rieff could be a derivative of other German surnames such as Rief, Rieffe, or Riefenstahl, each with possibly different origins and meanings. It's worth noting that to trace the accurate origin or meaning of Rieff, one must consider region, language evolution, and the sociopolitical context of the time when the surname was specified. Generally, though, its roots in the German language denote that it likely possesses a characteristic or occupational significance relative to the original bearers of this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisRieff: Where does the name Rieff come from?
The last name Rieff is commonly found in Germany today. It is a toponymic family name, meaning that it was derived from a geographical place name. This is evidenced by the fact that the name Rieff appears in old German records in places such as Saxony and the Rhineland Palatinate.
The name Rieff is predominantly a Catholic name, and is commonly found in areas with a strong Catholic presence, such as the Bavarian region. It is derived from the place Reiff, a region near parts of Saxony-Anhalt. It was also common in the old Duchy of Cleves, which was located in the Modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia. This region was part of the Eifel Hills, a low mountain range located in Germany.
It is difficult to track how many people continue to have the last name Rieff living in Germany today, but a phonebook search of the name in Germany yields some results. The name is still commonly found in Germany, with some of its origins being detectable in current-day geography.
Variations of the surname Rieff
The surname Rieff is of German origin, having mainly originated in areas such as Bavaria. It is believed to be derived from a short form of the German name Friedrich. The variants of the surname Rieff include the German surnames Reiff, Reif, Reiffer, Reifenberger, Reifer, Reifnitz, Reiffenstein, Reifendruber, Reifenberger, Reifengraber, Reifenmacher, and Reiffernegg.
Over time the surname Rieff has acquired various spellings. In some records the surname may be spelled Reif, Reiffe, Reiffer, Ryff, Rief, Reiffenstein, Reifenstuel, Reiffendorf, Reifenberger, Reyf, and more.
In the United States, the Rieff surname often takes on various Anglicized forms, such as: Rief, Rieff, Riefler, Rieffer, Riefe, Riefel, Riefeler, Ryff, Riffe, Ryffe, Ryffel, Ryffeler, Reif, Reef, Reffe, Reffel, Reiff and Reiffel.
The surname also has some variations depending on the region where it is used. In Eastern European countries such as Poland and Russia, the surname may be transliterated into the Cyrillic alphabet as Рыфф or Рыф, and it may also be spelled out phonetically in different variations such as Riep, Rya, Ras, Riva, Rijf, Rif, Rifl, Reif, Ryf, Raf, Rip, and Ripf.
In Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, the surname may be spelled as Rief, Ryf, Ryffe, or Reiff. In Jewish records it may be spelled as Reif, Rypf, Reich, Ryp, Riph, Rip, Riphf, Riphe, Rhief, Reyp, Riepp, and Ripf.
Overall, the surname Rieff is a German surname with several variants, spellings, and regional forms.
Famous people with the name Rieff
- David Rieff: an American journalist, author, and policy analyst.
- Philip Rieff: an American sociologist and cultural theorist.
- Susan Sontag: an American essayist, novelist, filmmaker, and political activist, née Susan Rieff.
- Arthur Rieff: an American theater, film, and television actor.
- Sandy Rieff: an American singer and songwriter.
- Robert Rieff: an American composer and director.
- Stephanie Rieff: an American journalist and author.
- Abigail Rieff: an American artist and arts philanthropist.
- Helene Rieff Ankersmit: Danish art historian and curator.
- Joy Rieff: an American singer and entertainer.