Surname Neureiter - Meaning and Origin

Neureiter: What does the surname Neureiter mean?

The last name Neureiter is a German name that originated in Austria and Southern Germany. It is derived from the German word “neumür” which means “new mason.”

Neureiter often appears in records from the 18th and 19th centuries as a common last name within the region, suggesting its widespread adoption for generations. It's likely that it has been altered in spelling and pronunciation over time, taking on different forms such as Neureiter, Nuireiter and Neuriter.

It is speculated that the name dates back to the city-building projects of the late Middle Ages, when the need for skilled stone, brick, and mortar workers increased. Across Germany and Austria, skilled masons worked on the construction of walls and fortifications during this period.

The development of the Neureiter surname likely began as a way to distinguish between masons working on specific projects or to indicate a family’s specialty. This is evidenced in historical records that make references to masons belonging to a “Neureiter-Gesellschaft” or “Neureiter family.”

Today, the name Neureiter continues to be well established in Germany and Austria, with a significant number of Neo-reiters and their descendants living in these countries. It’s a name with an interesting history that reflects aspects of the region’s culture in times past.

Neureiter: Where does the name Neureiter come from?

The last name Neureiter is most commonly found in the German-speaking region of Central Europe. It is particularly prevalent in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though there are smaller populations throughout the region.

In Germany, the majority of people with the last name Neureiter live in the states of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia, with a smaller concentration in Baden-Württemberg. In Austria, they are mainly located in Vienna, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria.

The Neureiter surname is relatively uncommon outside the German-speaking region. It can occasionally be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as many Neureiters have emigrated to these countries over the years.

In its home region, the Neureiter name is reasonably widespread, suggesting a lengthy history. It is believed that the surname originated from the Middle High German words ‘nur’, referring to a person living in a solitary house, and ‘eleiter’, meaning the plough driver. Put together, this suggests it was historically a name of farmers or rural inhabitants. It is likely that the Neureiters have lived in Central Europe since at least the 15th century, if not earlier.

Variations of the surname Neureiter

The Neureiter surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. These variants can be divided into six categories:

1. Neureiter: This is the original spelling of the surname and is the most commonly found spelling of the name. It is thought to have originally come from an old German word meaning “new rider”.

2. Neuwieder: This variant is derived from a town in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, called Neuwied.

3. Neureuter: This variant is a slight variation of the original spelling of the name, with the addition of the letter ‘r’ to the end.

4. Neureitner: This variant is a combination of the original spelling of the name plus the suffix ‘er’, as is often seen with many German surnames.

5. Neureither: This variant is considered to be derived from the old Middle High German word meaning “new rider”.

6. Neureithner: This variant is a combination of the two previously mentioned variants, with the addition of the suffix ‘ner’.

Overall, all of these variants are rooted in the same origin and can be used interchangeably. As a result, each of these spellings and surnames can be used to refer to the Neureiter surname.

Famous people with the name Neureiter

• Christine Neureiter: Austrian professional dancer and studio owner.
• Lyle Neureiter: American soldier who served in the US Army during World War II.
• Daniel Neureiter: Austrian actor known for his roles such as “Jesse” in the television series Manifest, and “Ned” in the movie A Quiet Little Date.
• Tom Neureiter: American football player who played for the Chicago Bears in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Alfred Neureiter: German-born Swiss scientist who was a pioneer in developing applications for X-ray diffraction.
• Claudia Neureiter: Austrian engineer and artificial intelligence expert.
• Berthold Neureiter: Austrian psychologist and psychotherapist who specialized in hypnosis research.
• Louis Neureiter: American writer and director, best known for his works in the LGBT community such as the award-winning feature film Thinking About Alex.
• Frank Neureiter: German pianist and composer.
• Julie Neureiter: American singer and songwriter who has released two full-length albums.

Other surnames

Neureither