Surname Reitmeir - Meaning and Origin

Reitmeir: What does the surname Reitmeir mean?

The last name Reitmeir is German in origin and is believed to derive from the term "Reiter," which translates to "rider" or "knight." It was a common surname given to individuals who worked as military horsemen, most likely of knightly rank. The term Reiter is thought to have been adopted into surnames as early as the 12th century, and likely would have been found among the most affluent families. The Reitmeir name itself is relatively uncommon and may have originally referred to a family which occupied a certain region in Germany.

The Clan of the Reitmeirs is an online genealogy forum dedicated to tracing the history of those with the Reitmeir name. Through this resource, it can be found that the earliest known record of the Reitmeir name can be traced to the 16th century in Saxony. It is believed that the origin of the Reitmeir name dates even further back, to the turn of the first millennium. However, due to the limited amount of historical records, exact details of the family’s past is difficult to unearth.

With knowledge of the meaning of Reitmeir (rider or knight), it is safe to assume that the ancestors of those with this name were a proud warrior family who focused heavily on military arts. It is also likely that the Reitmeirs were of a higher stature due to their illustrious ancestry, and may have held important roles within their community. Today, the Reitmeirs are found all over the world, with the most concentrated populations in Germany, the United States, and Australia.

Reitmeir: Where does the name Reitmeir come from?

The last name Reitmeir is a German surname originating from two words "Reit" meaning "Ride" and "Meir" meaning "illustrious" or "famous". Historically, it has been mostly associated with Bavaria and Silesia, two regions in former East Prussia that were both once part of the German-speaking world. In more recent decades, the surname has been spread much more widely across Germany due to migrations for work after World War II, as well as increased mobility of people within Europe more generally.

Today, the surname can be found in all major German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also quite common in the United States, where it was likely brought over by German immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the US, it often appears with an alternate spelling such as "Ritmeir" or "Reilly".

Although the exact number of people with the last name Reitmeir is not known, it is clear that it is a relatively widespread surname. This is due in large part to its association with the German-speaking world, as well as its easy application to a range of different first names. Those with the last name Reitmeir can be confident that they are likely connected to a larger community of people who share their unique name.

Variations of the surname Reitmeir

The surname Reitmeir is derived from the German word "reite" which translates to "riding". The spelling and variants of Reitmeir are as follows:

Reitmeier

Reytmeier

Rietmeier

Reytmeir

Reytmeyr

Ryedmeir

Reydmeyer

Rydmeyr

Reidmeyer

Reidmaier

Rheadmeier

Rhyedmeir

Reitmeir is also known by different spellings in clusters of what is known as surnames of similar origin. These surnames include:

Reitman

Reytman

Rietman

Reydman

Riedeman

Reimensnyder

Riedman

Riedmann

Riedemen

Reimenstein

Reider

Rhiedman

Ryedman

Reitmeier was most common in the Mittelrhein and Main regions of Germany. It is also common in the US, but most common in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The name has also spread to other countries such as Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. The surname is most often found spelled as Reitmeier, but all of these variants are derived from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Reitmeir

• Anton Reitmeier: former West German football player
• Thomas Reitmeier: German alpine skier who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics and in the 2002 Winter Olympics
• Anna Reitmeier: German actress
• Reinhold Reitmeier: German politician
• Jan Reitmeier: German electronic musician
• Ferdinand Reitmeier: German physician
• Eva Reitmeier: German historian
• Herm Reitmeier: American professional golfer
• Heinz Reitmeier: German composer and musician
• Helmut Reitmeier: German artist and philosopher

Other surnames

ReitmeierReitmeyer