Surname Rieffler - Meaning and Origin

Rieffler: What does the surname Rieffler mean?

The last name Rieffler has its origins in Germany and is classified as a German occupational surname. In general, a German occupational surname is a family name that is associated with an occupation carried out by an ancestor of the name bearer. In the case of the name Rieffler, the occupational origin is a form of a potter.

The name Rieffler is derived from the Middle German word "riffle" and was originally used to identify potters; specifically, those who worked with clay to form objects. Over time, the name developed different spellings such as Rüffler, Rueffler, and Rueflerl.

The Rieffler surname is usually found in records from the 15th century in cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich. During this time, pottery had become an important trade for the region and thus potters were an essential part of the region's industry.

Today, the surname is still used in Germany and is sometimes used in other countries as well. It is a reminder of the importance of pottery to Germany’s modern economy as well as the contributions of those potters who helped to shape that industry.

Rieffler: Where does the name Rieffler come from?

The last name Rieffler is most commonly found in Germany today. According to census data collected by the Digitales Historisches Zeitungsarchiv, it is the fifth most frequent surname in the country. It was particularly present in the 19th century, but has since spread to regions across the country.

According to family history research websites, the Rieffler surname likely originated in Bavaria, where there are still quite a few people with the surname today. Near the end of the 19th century, though, many German families began to emigrate to other countries around the world, taking their surnames with them. This likely accounts for the presence of Riefflers in countries outside of Germany today.

In America, the surname is especially present in Pennsylvania, which was the top American destination for German immigrants in the 19th century. According to the United States Census of 2000, 1732 individuals reported having the last name Rieffler in the US. This number only reflects the individuals living in the US at the time of the census and does not account for those who may have immigrated since then.

The Rieffler surname can also be found in other countries like Canada, Australia, and Argentina. It is possible that the immigrants who took the Rieffler name to these other countries were not necessarily related, but rather just shared the same last name. The exact origin of the Rieffler surname may never be known, but its presence across the world is an indication of how far the name has travelled since its beginnings in Bavaria.

Variations of the surname Rieffler

The surname Rieffler is a German name from the Middle High German Rifelere, which can mean either "archer" or "rifleman". As such, it can have multiple spellings based on regional dialects, as well as several different surnames of the same origin.

In the various dialects of German, this surname is pronounced differently. In Bavarian, it is spelled Riefler, and in High German it is spelled Riefeler. There is also a Swiss variant, spelled as Riffeler.

Variants of Rieffler include Reiffler, Reiffeler, Reifeler, Reeffler, Reiher, Reiffer, Rief, Riefenauer, Rieffer, Riefler, Riffeler, Ryffler, Ryffeler.

Surnames with similar origin and meaning include Rieper, Ripper, Ripp, Rippe, Rippel, Rippers, Riefers, Riefinge, Riefenschneider, Reifenschneider, Riffenberger, Riffle, Riker, and Reikert.

Other related surnames include Reif, Reifenstahl, Reifenberger, Reiff, Reifke, Reifenstein, Reifschneider, Riefer, Riefle, Reiffel, Riess, and Riesberg.

In total, there are over 200 different variants of Rieffler in Germany alone.

Famous people with the name Rieffler

• Kim Rieffeler: American cyclist, winner of the bronze medal in track cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• Tony Rieffler: Austrian athlete, winner of gold medals in middle distance running at the 1948 and 1953 European Athletics Championships.
• Chris Reiffler: German footballer, who competed in the 1928 and 1936 Olympic Games.
• Fischer Rieffler: Austrian physicist and chemist, known for his research on the properties of polymers.
• Rick Reiffeler: American baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball from 1979–1981.
• Veit Reiffler: Austrian sculptor and painter, known for his work in Baroque style.
• Greg Rieffler: American footballer, who played in the National Football League.
• Russell Rieffeler: American automobile engineer, co-founder of the Rieffeler-Carle Automobile Company.
• Abraham Rieffler: Dutch composer, known for his works for the organ, harpsichord and lute.
• Webbe Reiffler: American politician, who served as a member of the Kansas State House of Representatives.

Other surnames

Riefflin