Surname Ribel - Meaning and Origin
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Ribel: What does the surname Ribel mean?
The surname Ribel is a variant of Reibel or Rebholz, both of which are of German origin. The name is possibly topographic, referring to someone who lived by a vineyard, as the word "Rebholz" in German means "vine wood". Another interpretation could be that it is occupational, referring to someone who worked in a vineyard, as "reben" in German can mean "to vine" or "to graft". Over time and various spellings transformations depending on regions and dialects, it eventually took the form of Ribel. Like most surnames, it was likely originally descriptive, used to help distinguish between individuals with the same given name in a community. The exact meaning may vary based on historical, regional, and familial contexts. It is always advisable to trace individual genealogical records for a more accurate meaning and origin of the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisRibel: Where does the name Ribel come from?
The last name Ribel is most commonly found in countries in Central Europe, especially Central Germany, where it originated. Ribel is a habitational name, derived from a place called Rabel, which is a small town located near Potsdam in Brandenburg. The earliest record of this surname dates back to 1342 in Thuringia, when Hermannus de Rabel was mentioned as a witness in a court case.
Throughout the years, the Ribel surname spread and is now commonly found in the Netherlands, as well as countries like Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Austria, the United Kingdom, and France.
In the United States, the Ribel surname is much less common due to its origins in Central Europe. There are less than 1,000 households with the surname Ribel in America, concentrated mainly in the New York and Pennsylvania areas. The majority of those who carry the surname are descendants of immigrants from Germany and Central Europe who came to America in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s in search of a new life.
The name Ribel is also common in the Philippines, where it is a variation of the surnames Robles and Rafael. Additionally, there are a few hundred people who bear the surname in India, particularly in the states of West Bengal and Odisha, though the origin of the name in the country is unknown.
Variations of the surname Ribel
Variants of the surname Ribel include Rybel, Ribuls, and Riblev. The spelling Ribel with the "e" in the middle, is the most commonly used spelling. This spelling originates from Germany, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. Depending on the language, pronunciation of the surname may change.
Rybel is an anglicization of the original German surname, and is especially common among German-speaking communities. The spelling of the surname is also sometimes anglicized to Riebel.
Ribuls is the Ukrainian version of the surname Ribel, and originated in Eastern European countries. This version of the surname is less common than the others.
The last variant, Riblev, is the Hebrew version of the surname Ribel. This spelling is often found among Jewish communities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Ribel surname is an occupational surname, derived from a word meaning "rwinger," which is a person who can operate a machine powered by a horse, such as a threshing machine or stone crusher. This suggests that people with this surname may have had a job based on this technology in the past, although this is unconfirmed.
In general, the surname Ribel is an uncommon one, and is found focused in Germany, Estonia, Czech Republic, and Jewish and German-speaking areas of the United Kingdom and the United States.
Famous people with the name Ribel
- Rebecca Ribelli: Italian television producer
- Peter Ribel: Austrian painter
- Samuel Ribel: Mexican politician
- Ted Ribel: American record producer
- Jeffrey Ribel: American architect
- Michel-Marie Ribel: French Olympic speed skater
- Norman Ribel: Belgian Olympic swimmer
- Marcelo Ribel: Chilean actor
- Elisabeth Ribel-Müller: Austrian operatic soprano
- Peter-Diederik Ribel: Dutch architect