Surname Reitenspieß - Meaning and Origin
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Reitenspieß: What does the surname Reitenspieß mean?
The last name Reitenspieß is a German and Dutch surname derived from words meaning “riding spear”. It likely originated as a nickname for a soldier who carried a spear while mounted on a horse. It may also refer to someone who breeds horses, or it possibly suggests the person was of a noble class.
The earliest architected mention of the name was found in records from the Middle Ages in the German state of Hesse in the city of Eschborn. The first recorded spelling of the surname was Reitenschpiß, which is found in the old documents from 1711. Other spelling variations of the last name Reitenspieß include ReitenSpeer, Reitenspiess, Reitespiet, Reitenspitz and Reitanspitz.
Today, there are several hundred people with the surname identified on ancestry websites. The most frequently identified locations of people with the name are Bavaria, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. Family members of this surname are scattered around the world, with some residing in the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, England, Australia, and New Zealand.
The meaning of this surname holds a special significance to its descendants. From the patriotic rider with the spear to the family members of today, the impact of Reitenspieß will be carried on for centuries to come.
Order DNA origin analysisReitenspieß: Where does the name Reitenspieß come from?
The last name Reitenspieß is primarily associated with Germany, although other countries in Central Europe may be home to some individuals with that surname. The Reitenspieß name appears to be most common in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Specifically, the cities of Neu Wiederitzsch, Laucha, and Wiepke were found to have the highest number of Reitenspieß listings in recent years.
The Reitenspieß surname is believed to originate from the Middle High German word “Reiti” meaning “rider” or “horseman”. This suggests the surname is likely rooted in a military or knightly tradition; some individuals with the last name have in fact been proficient horsemen. Additional potential derivations of the surname include a German word for a wooden spear, suggesting a hunter or archer, or a variant spelling of Rötenpieß, which means a “point of a spear” and likely originates from a hunter’s nickname.
Regardless of the origin of the Reitenspieß surname, it appears to be most common in and around eastern German cities such as Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, and Erfurt. It could also be found in other Central European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, albeit in much smaller numbers than in Germany.
It is possible to trace the family lineage of those with the Reitenspieß last name by means of genealogy services available online. Thus, those with Germanic ancestry and the Reitenspieß surname will be able to learn more about their unique family history.
Variations of the surname Reitenspieß
The Reitenspieß surname has several variants and spellings, as well as related surnames of the same origin.
Variants and spellings of the Reitenspieß surname include Reitenspies, Reitenspiz, Reitenspizs, Reitenspizsz, Reitenspizszs, and Reitenspizszsz.
Related surnames are, Reitenspleiss, Reitenpliz, Reitenspiesz, and Reitenspieszsz. Other variants of the same origin are Retensenpleiss, Reitenespleis, Reitenstiles, Reitenstilz, Reitenstils, and Reitenstilsz.
Other spellings of the same origin are Reitenstitz, Reitenstiz, Reitenstell, Reitenstil, Reitenstoitz, Reitensoll, Reitenstahl, Reitensohl, and Reitenstuzz.
Additionally, surnames of the same origin include Raitenspize, Raitenspitze, Ratenspeise, Ratensplesz, Ratenstiles, Ratenstille, Ratenstilz, and Ratenstilze.
The origin of this surname is believed to come from the late Middle High German word "Reitenspiez" which refers to a person who wielded lances for jousting in medieval tournaments.
Famous people with the name Reitenspieß
- Ernst Reitenspieß: German philosopher and social scientist
- Adele Reitenspieß: German operatic soprano and voice teacher
- Hans Karl Reitenspieß: German painter and expressionist
- Bartow Reitenspieß: American architect and landscape designer
- Paul Reitenspieß: German academic and president of the University of Berlin
- Wilhelm Reitenspieß: German engineer and physicist
- Heide Marie Reitenspieß: German swimmer and Olympian
- Martin Reitenspieß: German journalist and writer
- Annette Reitenspieß: German veterinarian and professor
- Karl Reitenspieß: German soldier and World War I recipient of the Iron Cross