Surname Rittger - Meaning and Origin
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Rittger: What does the surname Rittger mean?
The last name Rittger is an occupational surname derived from the Old German word "Ritter", meaning "knight". It was likely first adopted by an ancestor of the Rittger family who worked as a knight in Medieval times. The original bearer of the surname may have served as a knight for a baron or a royal family, or even as a soldier in the military.
The surname is quite rare and is chiefly found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It likely originates in western Europe and was likely brought to the US by immigrants from these countries. It is speculated by some researchers that the Rittger surname could also be derived from the word "Riteger", a variant spelling of "Reuter", which means "horseman" in Old High German.
Since its origin, the Rittger surname has become associated with family pride and loyalty. Many members of the Rittger family proudly bear the surname, tracing their roots back to their ancestors and honoring their legacy. The surname is a reminder of the Medieval origins of the family’s ancestors and of their service to their kings and countries over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisRittger: Where does the name Rittger come from?
The last name Rittger is most commonly found in the United States. According to data from the US Census Bureau, as of 2019, there were approximately 1,500 American citizens who reported the surname Rittger.
The majority of Rittger households live in the Midwestern U.S. states, with the largest concentration found in Michigan. Other Midwest states with large numbers of Rittgers include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. Additional states accounting for smaller populations of Rittgers include Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Most Rittger ancestors emigrated to the U.S. from Germany during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In Germany, the Rittger surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was derived from the medieval personal name Ritter. The name is a low frequency surname, meaning it is not widely dispersed geographically. It is especially concentrated in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region as well as in Schleswig-Holstein, two areas in the northeastern corner of Germany.
Overall, the Rittger surname is not overly common today, but it still pops up from time to time in the US Midwest and Northeast as well as in certain regions of Germany.
Variations of the surname Rittger
The surname Rittger has many variants and related surnames that are derived from the Germanic word Ritter, meaning knight. This surname was originally created to recognize the personal obligation of a knight to his liege lord, as well as the feudal obligations of his sons. Common variants of the name Rittger include Retter, Ritter, Reiter, Reitger, Reitgerd, Reitgerdt, Reithger, Reithgerd, Rytger, Rytgerd, Ryther, Rytherd, Ritger and Ritgerd.
The surname Rittger is also known as Rutter in England and Scotland, and Rutger, Rüter and Rüther in Germany. It could also be spelled as Reader, Rother, Roeder, Rohder, Rooder, Rutzger or Retzger.
There are also many distinct surnames that may have stemmed from the Rittger surname. These include Rittgen, Rittner, Rijthoff, Rijlbos, Reithoff, Regers, Reichinger, Reinecker, Reichle and Richter.
Overall, the surname Rittger is derived from the word Ritter, and has several variations and related surnames that were propagated by the traditional customs of medieval Europe. These variations may have taken many forms throughout the centuries, and today, one may still find several variants and related surnames of the Rittger surname.
Famous people with the name Rittger
1.Otto Rittger: a German philosopher and scholar during the 18th century. 2.Eddie Rittger: American saxophonist and instrumentalist in the mid-late 20th century. 3.Dave Rittger: American engineer and CEO of Density Inc. 4.Matt Rittger: an American college football coach who is currently working as an offensive coordinator at the University of St. Thomas. 5.Alice Rittger: an American actress who starred in two films in the mid-1970s. 6.Barbara Rittger: an American writer and editor, best known for her magazine Woman’s World. 7.John Rittger: an American comic book artist who has worked with DC Comics and Marvel. 8.Matthias Rittger: a German public servant and politician who held office during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 9.Henry Rittger, Jr.: a Swiss economist and thinker who wrote actively on the development of the free market economy in the early 20th century. 10.Bianca Rittger: an American dancer and choreographer active during the early 20th century.