Surname Riefflin - Meaning and Origin

Riefflin: What does the surname Riefflin mean?

The last name Riefflin is of German origin and is derived from two distinct root words. The first root word is rief meaning "gully" or "small valley," while the second root word is lin, meaning "surface" or "nest." Taken together, the name can be interpreted to mean "small valley nest," suggesting a topographical origin for the surname.

The name may also be associated with such other surname variants as Reifflein, Riffling, Reiffel and Rieffel. According to some sources, the name may have originally been spelled 'Ryfflin.' In the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, the pronunciation of the name was often written as "Riflin."

In German genealogical sources, the name is thought to have originated with the Old Germanic word "ricken," meaning "to move quickly." This suggests that the early holders of the name Riefflin were of nomadic or migratory origin. The name is thought to have first appeared in the region of Bavaria in the fifteenth century and, despite its limited popularity in other areas, is still found predominantly in Germany today.

Riefflin is a fairly rare name, but there are scattered examples of the name found across the United States, Canada, and even in Australia. Today, the name is often associated with those of German descent, particularly in the southwestern United States.

Riefflin: Where does the name Riefflin come from?

The last name Riefflin is most commonly found in Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Germany. It is known for its association with various cities throughout Europe, in particular, medieval cities such as Geneva and Basel.

Today, Riefflin is not as commonly found, however, it is still a prominent name in its regions of origin. In Switzerland, the name is popular in the canton of Neuchâtel, a small French-speaking canton in the northwest of the country. The same is true for France, where the name is most popular in the northeast of the country around the cities of Metz and Strasbourg.

In Belgium, the name is primarily found in the Flemish-speaking city of Ghent, while in Germany, the name is most commonly found in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Although the name is not as popular in the 21st century as it was in the past, Riefflin is still a recognizable name throughout Europe. Those with the name are often associated with craftsmanship, intelligence, and the hard-working nature of their ancestors. This tradition of hard work passes down through generations, providing a successful life for many families that carry the name.

Variations of the surname Riefflin

Riefflin is a German surname of an ancient pedigree. It is one of the many German surnames which have its variants, spellings and related surnames. These are the variants, spellings and related surnames of Riefflin:

Rifflin, Riflin, Riefflen, Riflen, Rieflin, Reifflin, Reiflin, Refflin, Reflin, Riefland, Riffland, Rieffland, Refland, Reffland, Riefling, Riffling, Rieffling, Refling and Reffling.

Rieflin and related surnames are found to have originated in Reifferscheid and Bundenbach. The name is derived from the old Germanic personal name “Rieffen” which means “strong ruler”.

Rieff lin is also connected to the medieval Kunradslein family, a noble family of Basel, Switzerland. They were folks of the Middle ages who were descended from Count Kunrad from the Alturbesen district in Basel.

The spelling Riflin is an Anglicized form of the French surname Riffle. This spelling is primarily found in the United States. In German, the surname is be spelled Rifflin or Rafflin.

Riefer, Rieferd, and Riefurst are also related forms of Riefflin. These surnames are derived from the occupational description of a reeve or governor, which is rooted in the German word rieffen or rieffer. The surname Riefenstahl is also a form of Riefflin, and is derived from a combination of the personal name Rieffen and stahl, which means "stand".

Therefore, Riefflin is an ancient and noble German surname with many variants, spellings and related surnames. It has been found to be associated with Kunradslein family of Basel, Switzerland, and many other families of the Middle ages.

Famous people with the name Riefflin

• Philippe Refflin, French singer and music producer
• David Riefflin, an American attorney
• Bernhard Riefflin, a Swiss researcher in the areas of artificial neural networks and decision-making
• James Riefflin, a coach for the San Francisco 49ers
• Jakob Riefflin, a Swiss painter
• Judith Rieffelin, a German singer
• Reinhardt Riefflin, a member of the French Legion of Honor
• Baschick Riefflin, a French restaurateur
• Jürg Riefflin, a Swiss soccer player
• Dick Riefflin, an American comic book artist
• Gottfried Riefflin, a German literary historian
• Rudolf Riefflin, a graphic designer and computer scientist
• Heidi Riefflin, a Swiss modern dancer
• Eva Riefflin, a German opera singer
• Tobias Riefflin, a German photographer
• Marc Reifflin, a French soccer player
• Uschi Reifflin, a German psychologist
• David Reifflin, an Australian psychologist
• Ivanka Reifflin, a German fashion designer
• Stephanie Reifflin, a German architect

Other surnames

Rieffler