Surname Reichenbach - Meaning and Origin

Tracing My Identity and Heritage: The Rich Stream of Reichenbach as Revealed by iGENEA DNA Test

Revealing a genetic mosaic, my iGENEA DNA test results spurred an enlightening personal journey into my familial lineage and surname – 'Reichenbach.' The experience of tracing my ancestry and understanding diverse links profoundly reshaped my perspective on individual identity and heritage, reaffirming the surname's meaning as a 'rich stream' of histories.

D. Reichenbach

Reichenbach: What does the surname Reichenbach mean?

The last name Reichenbach is of German origin and means “rich stream” or “rich brook”. It is thought by some sources to mean “powerful” or “strong”, and according to other sources the name means “beautiful river”. In German, the word “bach” means “stream,” so a family with this surname essentially identifies themselves as coming from a place with a prosperous creek or river.

The Reichenbach surname appears to have been widely distributed across Germany and the surrounding territories that were formerly part of the Germanic Empire. In some areas, it is also common to find the variation Reichenbacher.

In the U.S., the Reichenbach surname is mainly located in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Historically, Reichenbachs were among the earliest immigrants in these areas. The first recorded Reichenbach in the U.S. was Jacob Reichenbach, who migrated to Pennsylvania in 1784.

Today, the Reichenbach name continues to be popular in Germany, where it remains among the top 500 surnames. In the States, it is far less common, but still recognizable in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Whether it means “powerful,” “strong,” “beautiful river” or “rich stream,” the Reichenbach surname still carries a sense of heritage and history stemming from a proud German heritage.

Reichenbach: Where does the name Reichenbach come from?

The last name Reichenbach is typically found in German-speaking parts of Europe. It is most commonly seen in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. In Germany it is located primarily in the states of Baden-Württemburg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony.

Outside of traditional German speaking countries, the Reichenbach name can be found in other countries that have German-speaking populations. This often includes parts of Eastern Europe such as Poland, Hungary and Romania, but more recently has also included the United States and Canada.

In the United States, Reichenbach is mainly concentrated in Wisconsin, which has had a large population of German-Americans. It is also found in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and North Dakota.

In Canada, the name is most prevalent in Ontario where there is a large population of German-Canadians, and to a lesser degree in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.

No matter where it is found, the Reichenbach last name has been associated with a long and proud history. Dating back hundreds of years, the name is commonly found to be of Germanic origin and is typically used to denote an area of origin or a profession.

Variations of the surname Reichenbach

The surname Reichenbach is believed to have originated from a place named Reichenbach in Germany. It is also spelled as Reichenbacher, Reichenbaugh, Reichenbacher, Riechenbach, and Richinbach.

The earliest recorded forms of the Reichenbach surname appear in the 15th century in Germany. This surname was likely derived from the place name Reichenbach, which is in the region of Saxony. In fact, the name Reichenbach itself is derived from the German terms "rich" (meaning rich) and "bach" (meaning stream).

The Reichenbach surname is also found in various other forms, such as Reinchenbach, Reigntenbach, Reichmedbach and Reich den bach. Variants of the Reichenbach surname are sometimes associated with additional surnames such as Richter (judge), Wies (field) and Pischke (pig breeder).

In addition, the Reichenbach surname is sometimes found in different spellings and alternative forms. These include Riechenbacher, Reichenpach, Reichinpach, Reichampach, Reichenbach and Reichinbach.

Nowadays, the most common spellings of the Reichenbach surname are Reichenbach and Reichenbacher. This surname is found across Europe in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in the United States, especially in Pennsylvania, due to the early migrations of German settlers.

Famous people with the name Reichenbach

• Sigwart von Reichenbach, German jurist and statesman
• Arnold Reichenbach, American Naval Officer and Medal of Honor recipient
• Gilbert Reichenbach, French composer
• Franz Reichenbach, Austrian cinematographer
• Stefan Reichenbach, German footballer
• Morgan Reichenbach, American singer-songwriter
• Hanno Reichenbach, German mathematician
• Holger Reichenbach, German architect
• Carol Reichenbach, Swiss author
• Kristina Reichenbach, German actress
• Erich Reichenbach, German painter
• Scheck von Reichenbach, German Olympic field hockey player
• Benno Reichenbach, German cyclist and Olympic competitor
• Ewald von Reichenbach, German Lieutenant general and recipient of the pour le Mérite
• Ingeborg Reichenbach-Klinke, German operatic soprano
• Fritz Reichenbach, German chemist
• Johannes Reichenbach, German philosopher
• Ursula Reichenbach, German actress
• Andreas Reichenbach, Swiss actor
• Sir Robert Reichenbach, British soldier and Royal Engineer

Other surnames

ReichenbacherReichenbächerReichenbecher