Surname Reinerts - Meaning and Origin
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Reinerts: What does the surname Reinerts mean?
The last name Reinerts is of German origin. The surname is derived from Old High German words and means “a person who reigns” or a “ruler”. The name is originally derived from ‘reinar’ or ‘reinhart’ which means ‘brave’ and ‘strong’, respectively. This suggests that those bearing the Reinerts surname originally held some type of leadership or power. The surname can be found in records as early as the 16th century in Germany and other Germanic countries.
Since then, the Reinerts surname has spread around the world. Originally, Reinerts appears to have been a hereditary name, common among members of the same family. For example, a Reinerts family from Westphalia, Germany, established themselves in England in 1629, where the family has resided for centuries. Beyond Germany, the Reinerts surname can be found in several other countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia.
The surname is a reflection of the strength and resilience of those who carry the name. The Reinerts family members have shown determination in being able to establish themselves in many countries around the world and to remain successful in each of those countries. The Reinerts surname carries the legacy of those who were brave, strong, and determined.
Order DNA origin analysisReinerts: Where does the name Reinerts come from?
The Reinerts surname is assumed to have originated in Germany, where it is still found today, largely in the regions of Lower Saxony, Hesse, Bavaria, and Thuringia. It is also common in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Reinerts is derived from the Old Germanic personal name Reginhard, which is composed of two elements: regin, meaning "descendant of," and hard, meaning "strong, powerful, or brave". The term was used to denote one who was brave, as this name often indicated pride and fortitude.
The region of Lower Saxony, stretching from the North Sea to the Harz Mountains, was the centre of distribution for the surname throughout much of the Middle Ages. In Hesse, this surname became engrained in the area known colloquially as Der Reinertsland, where it was especially widespread. It can also be found throughout nearby areas of East and Westphalia.
The Reinerts surname is just as easily found on the other side of the Atlantic. In the 1800s, numerous Reinertses left Germany to settle in the United States, particularly Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana. Records of the surname can also be found in Canada, where in 2016, the last name ranked as the 20,735th most popular.
There is a much smaller population of Reinertses in Australia, but the name can still be found in pockets around the country. In 2016, the last name was ranked as the 40,484th most popular in Australia.
Overall, the Reinerts surname is still widely found in Germany and North America, and is slowly gaining popularity elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Reinerts
The surname Reinerts is typically associated with a northern German heritage and has a range of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname is Reinerts. Variations on the spelling include Raynarz, Reinartz, Reinhard, Reinharz, Reinherz, Reinhardt, Reinhart and Reinhardts. Other surnames with the same origin include Reinhard, Renert, Rhinard, Rinard, Rhinehart, Reinards, Reinhold and Reinholds.
The historical roots of the Reinerts surname can be found in the Medieval German word "rein" which means "pure,” suggesting that those with the Reinerts surname may have been regarded as having pure character or behavior. Other sources suggest that the Reinerts surname is derived from the given name Ragnheri, which itself is derived from Ranier, the Old German name for the Norse god Ragnar.
In the early Middle Ages, the Reinerts surname was adopted by many families scattered throughout northern Germany. Many of these families are descended from ancient Saxon tribes, suggesting that the Reinerts surname is likely centuries old. Over time, many families with the Reinerts surname adopted additional last names as their families migrated throughout Europe. As a result, with the passage of time, the Reinerts surname has become dispersed throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, America, Canada and beyond.
Today, in addition to Northern Germany, the Reinerts surname is most commonly found in regions such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
Famous people with the name Reinerts
- Celeste Reinerts, model and TV host
- Jan Reinecke Reinerts, footballer and manager
- Edit Reinerts, Estonian Politician
- Johannes Reinerts, concert organiser and author
- Heinz Reinerts, German politician
- Wolfgang Reinerts, German archaeologist
- Bjorn Reinerts, former chairman of the Copenhagen Stock Exchange
- John Reinerts, Canadian artist
- Kaspar Reinerts, Danish historian and author
- Morten Reinerts, Danish singer and songwriter