Surname Rieche - Meaning and Origin
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Rieche: What does the surname Rieche mean?
The last name Rieche is of German or Swiss-German origin. It derives from "Riech," a German nickname for a person with a keen sense of smell, or who was a maker of potpourri. The plural of Riech is Rieche, which was adopted as a surname in the 15th century.
Not much is known about the earliest bearers of the Rieche name, but the family may have been noble and of some means, as ancient documents show the name was often linked to land grants in Switzerland. Records date back to 1525, when a farmer called Ulrich Rieche was mentioned in the parish register of Widnau, in Switzerland's Canton Saint Gallen.
The Rieche experience much prosperity in subsequent generations, with many members achieving success in commerce, politics, the military and other fields. For example, in 1741, Johann Abraham Rieche commissioned the construction of a palace in Ermatingen in Switzerland, and Joan Rieche built the Palm House at the Regentenbau in Baden in 1865.
The Rieche Spirit lives on today throughout the world, as name holders are found in Germany, Switzerland, the United States and other countries. Its bearers are known for their intellect, ambition and resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisRieche: Where does the name Rieche come from?
The last name Rieche can be found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is most common in the southern parts of these countries and in the bordering areas. It is also found in the United States, mainly in the Midwest and East Coast but also in other regions such as in California and the Southwest, and in Canada, especially in the eastern provinces.
Rieche is a German-language surname meaning "rich," and is a variant of Riechers. This form is particularly popular in Germany and Austria, where it is the fourth most common surname in both countries. It can also be found in other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but is not as common there.
Outside of German-speaking countries, the name is common among the descendants of German immigrants to the United States and other countries. The name is very rare in France and the Netherlands. It has also been found in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries with a significant German-speaking population.
Overall, Rieche is a popular last name in German-speaking countries, and is also found in the United States and elsewhere among descendants of German immigrants.
Variations of the surname Rieche
The surname Rieche has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Rieche is a German surname and is most commonly found in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. The name derives from the Old German “rih” meaning “power” or “rule.”
Common variants of the surname include Reiche, Reicher, Reich, Reichert, Reichhardt, Reichmann, Reichard, Reichhauer, Reichel, and Reichelmann.
Given the wide variety of spellings, some less common or rare variants include Ryche, Rycher, Rych, Rychert, Rychard, Rychauer, Rychel, and Rychelmann.
Several surnames can be derived from the same root as Rieche, such as Riege, Rieckmann, Riegele, Riegler, Riehe, and Riehle.
There are also distinct variants of the surname based on geographical location. For instance, the Austrian variant of the surname is Reichel, while the Swedish variant is Righ.
Given the variety of spellings of Rieche, there are a number of surnames that may result in confusion if one is searching for records of this surname. Thus, it is important to research the variations thoroughly.
Famous people with the name Rieche
- Daimien Rieche: Australian swimmer, world record holder in 400m medley
- Franz Rieche: Austrian publisher, famous for publishing works by Mahler, Wolf, Zemlinsky, Humperdinck, Schubert, Bruckner and others
- John Rieche: former basketball player who played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers
- Domenic Rieche: professional volleyball player who plays for Italy's Trentino Volley men's team
- Steven Rieche: American composer and sound designer
- Matt Rieche: American actor who has starred in various television series and movies
- Ursula Rieche: German artist best known for her sculptures
- Bill Rieche: radio personality, host of the syndicated talk-radio show, ‘Bill Rieche Live!'
- Josef Rieche: Swiss theologian, writer and professor
- Sonja Rieche: German former biathlete
- Christoph Rieche: German engineer and project manager
- Jürgen Rieche: German musicologist and professor
- Nikolaus Rieche: German attorney and writer
- Albert Rieche: German entomologist and professor
- Otto Rieche: German Neurologist
- Viktor Rieche: German composer, conductor and teacher
- Charlotte Rieche: German singer and songwriter
- Roderick Rieche: American filmmaker and screenwriter
- Ranja Rieche: German classical singer
- Michael Riecher: Swiss doctor of medicine and professor