Surname Riefl - Meaning and Origin
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Riefl: What does the surname Riefl mean?
The last name Riefl is a German surname, stemming from the Bavarian region of Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word 'rove' which means 'red' or 'red hair'. In some cases, the surname Riefl is derived from the word 'rift' which is a German falconry term meaning the hunting of wild falcons.
In some places throughout Germany, the name Riefl is actually spelt as 'Reifel' or 'Ruefel'. It is typically used as a patronymic surname, which is a surname derived from a personal name. The prefix 'von' is often associated with the surname, which is an indication of an aristocratic background.
The surname is found mainly in areas of Central and Southern Germany, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Palatinate. It is also quite common in Switzerland and Austria. It is not a particularly common surname, but those who carry it have a strong sense of ancestry and honor the name.
The modern Riefl is a family name that carries a long, proud history. It is a reminder of strong heritage and a source of pride and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisRiefl: Where does the name Riefl come from?
The last name Riefl is found mainly amongst German-speaking populations today, particularly in the territories of Germany and Austria. The surname is commonly found in the German state of Bavaria, specifically in the Swabia region of Southern Germany and the Upper Austro-Bavarian region of Austria, which reaches up to the Czech border.
Riefl is thought to be derived from the Old High German name, Rifolom or Rifolum, which means ‘Rife people’. The earliest recorded example of the name being used is the mention of Heinrich Rifolom in 1286, in the church records of Stuttgartclust. This suggests that the name is most likely a location-based surname, referring to the regional origin of someone’s ancestors.
The name ‘Riefl’ is still popular today, and is used widely amongst communities in both Germany and Austria. It may also be seen to some degree in certain immigrant communities from Europe, such as those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Riefl
The surname Riefl is a name of Germanic origin that has been used by people in many countries for several centuries. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Réveil, Riefel, Riefloff, Ryfel, and Ryfoff.
Variants of the name Riefl include Revelli, Reveille, Reval, Refil, Refill, Refile, Refilloff, Refel, Riefil, Riefill, Riefile, Riefilloff, Riefel, Riefloff, Ryfil, Ryfill, Ryfile, Ryfilloff, Ryfel, and Ryfoff.
In Germany, the word 'Riefel' was used to describe a house. As such, depending on the area and time period, a person with the name Riefel could have earned the surname or taken it from their house.
In the past, the spelling may have been changed to 'Riefle' or 'Ryfle' to make it easier to pronounce or spell the name. Likewise, 'Riefel' may have been written as 'Ryfel'.
Furthermore, 'Riefl' or 'Ryfl' could have been altered to 'Riefloff' or 'Ryfoff' in order to distinguish an individual or family of the same name.
Due to its Germanic roots, 'Riefl' is also found in different forms in countries like Austria and Switzerland. In Austria, the spelling is sometimes seen as 'Röveil' and in Switzerland the variant 'Rivill' is common.
In short, the surname Riefl is found in many forms, including variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin such as Réveil, Riefel, Riefloff, Ryfel, and Ryfoff. All of these variations likely have some form of connection to the original Germanic roots of the surname.
Famous people with the name Riefl
- Sy Riefl, American professional basketball player
- Michael Riefl, Austrian international figure skater
- Hermann Josef Riefl, 19th-century German Lutheran theologian
- Maria Riefl, Austrian artist
- Frank Riefl, Swiss Olympic volleyball player
- Kurt Riefl, Austrian alpine skier
- Heinz Riefl, German footballer
- Claudius Riefl, German flour miller
- Franz Riefl, Austrian alpine skier
- Brigitte Riefl, Austrian downhill skier
- Arnold Riefl, former coach of the Austrian national soccer team
- Günther Riefl, German actor
- Johann Baptist Riefl, former Citizen-General of Austria
- Maximilian Riefl, Austrian sculptor
- Alois Riefl, Austrian ski jumper
- Barbara Riefl, Swiss figure artist