Surname Reiss - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling My Personal Story and Identity Through iGENEA: A Reiss Tale
My journey with iGENEA started as a search for my ancestry. With our family name, Reiss, hinting German roots, I sought a deeper understanding of lineages intertwined in my DNA. A quest that subtly evolved from just a historical probe into an introspective journey.
F. Reiss
read moreReiss: What does the surname Reiss mean?
The last name Reiss is of German origin and is derived from a nickname or occupational name. In Middle High German, the term "reisse" or "rise" means a giant or strong man, suggesting that this surname might have initially been a nickname for someone who was exceptionally strong or tall. Alternatively, Reiss could be an occupational name for a woodworker or carver, with "reissen" meaning "to tear or carve out" in Old High German. Over time, this surname has been transformed and anglicised into various forms, including Ries, Reis, Rees, and Reese. Surnames were often used as identifiers in medieval times, with occupational surnames linking to a person's job and nickname surnames referring to a person's characteristics or appearance. Therefore, someone bearing the name Reiss could have been known for their strength or their trade as a woodworker or carver.
Order DNA origin analysisReiss: Where does the name Reiss come from?
The last name Reiss is common today in many countries all around the world, especially in Europe. The root of the surname is German, deriving from the Hebrew word for head or prince. It is likely that the family can be traced back to an early European Jewish family which had resided in the area for many generations.
In Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, Reiss is a very common last name. It is the 136th most popular last name in Germany as of 2019 and is even more common in some areas of Austria, where it is the 82nd most popular surname.
Reiss is also a common German-Jewish last name, as a significant number of Jews still reside in Germany following the end of World War II.
The name is also quite common in the United States, where it is estimated that over 45,000 Americans currently bear the surname Reiss. The Reiss family has a long history in the US dating back to the mid-19th century. The name is particularly common in Western states such as California, where approximately 11,000 Americans carry the name.
Reiss is also fairly common in other countries, including Canada, England, the Netherlands, Norway, and various other European countries.
Variations of the surname Reiss
Reiss is an Old German surname that has been used by several different families over the centuries. It is also spelled as Rhees, Rhys, Ries, Ryes, Rees, Reese and Rayes. It is a popular surname in Germany, and has spread to many other countries across Europe.
The surname Reiss is derived from the Old German word for ‘ash’ and is thought to have been originally used as an occupational name for someone who worked with trees or provided timber. Alternatively, it may have referred to someone who produced charcoal. Over time, the surname has come to be adopted by numerous unrelated families across Europe.
Variants of the Reiss surname may refer to different spelling conventions depending on the language and nationality of the family. In German, the name is commonly seen as Rhees or Rhys which has primarily been used in Germany and Austria. Other variants such as Rees, Reese and Rayes are more popularly used in England and Wales. Meanwhile, Ries and Ryes are more commonly seen in the Netherlands as well as in parts of Scotland.
By extension, numerous families with different origins may have adopted the Reiss surname over time. Others may have adopted a variation of the surname such as Yreiss (used by families of French and Spanish descent) or Sari-Reiss (used by families of Jewish descent).
Famous people with the name Reiss
- Ethan Reiss: American comedian, writer, and actor. He contributed to the satirical website Reductress and wrote short comedy pieces for VH1
- Isaac Reiss: Best-selling author, business mentor, and success coach.
- Annabeth Reiss: Broadway and television actress known for her roles in shows like Madam Secretary and Code Black.
- Karl Reiss: German composer known for creating soundtracks to films such as Das Leben der Anderen and Leise Fliesst der Rhein.
- Phoebe Reiss: American clothing designer and owner of the label Phoebe C & Co.
- Leonard Reiss: CEO and founder of Reiss Enterprises, a venture capital firm specializing in health care technology.
- Brian Reiss: Film and television producer known for his work on shows like Universal Comedy and Weekends.
- Adam Reiss: Award-winning film director and cinematographer. He has directed films such as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Glove.
- Gavin Reiss: Award-winning Hollywood actor and producer. He is best known for his roles in films like Radios and Poker Night.
- Samuel Reiss: American historian and political scientist whose works focus on the history and politics of Latin America.