Surname Rigel - Meaning and Origin
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Rigel: What does the surname Rigel mean?
The last name Rigel is of German origin. It is thought to be derived from the given name 'Rig', which itself is derived from the Germanic 'ric', meaning 'ruler, powerful and rich'. The name is thought to have been used to indicate a person who was powerful and wealthy. It could also have been derived from the old Germanic word 'rigil' which means 'the shining one', referring to someone who was very bright.
Rigel is known as a noble family name, which was relatively common in Upper Bavaria and Southern Germany prior to the Middle Ages. During this era, people used their family name to distinguish members of their family from others. By the 19th century, the name Rigel had spread throughout Europe, eventually reaching America. Here, it became one of the most common surnames among German immigrants, as well as among Ashkenazic Jews.
Today, the last name Rigel is widely used as a first name in many countries. It is most popular in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. In these countries, it is associated with wealth and power, and is sometimes seen as a symbol of social status. People with the last name Rigel are often seen as successful and influential.
Order DNA origin analysisRigel: Where does the name Rigel come from?
The last name Rigel is a unique, but widespread name. It can be found all across the world, from North America to Europe, Asia, and Australia. In terms of its most popular locations today, Rigel is most common in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, Rigel is a relatively rare surname, coming in at number 28,440 on the list of the most populous surnames. However, the United Kingdom holds a much higher percentage of people with the Rigel surname. Across the pond, Rigel is the 22,636th most popular name in the country and is particularly heavily concentrated in London as well as Merseyside, Lancashire, and Cumbria.
In addition, Rigel is especially prevalent in Israel, with 6,198 bearers of the name as of 2008. In the Russian Federation, it is also a popular surname at 8,639 people bearing it in 2020. The countries of South Korea, Serbia, Ireland, Mexico, and Kazakhstan also have a disproportionately high number of people with the Rigel surname.
No matter the location, the Rigel surname is a reminder of the family’s long and diverse history.
Variations of the surname Rigel
The variants, spellings and surnames of origin for the surname Rigel are Rigell, Rigela, Riegel, Riegle, Riegal and Riegels. These surnames all come from the Germanic personal name, Giralac (Rich Ruler), derived from Latin words “ricus” (strong/powerful) and “gualac” (rule).
Rigel is what is usually found on the Anglicized records, the Dutch and Low German word Riegl. That is also sometimes referred to as being a variant of Riegal, the Anglo-Norman form of the surname. The surname has also been rendered in English as Riegel, Riegal, Rigell and Rigele.
In some documents, the surname is written as Riegel, due to the usage of the spelling Riegel for the German family name Riegl. The spelling Rigel is a variant of Riegal which is the Middle English form of Riegel.
The earliest known recorded usage of the name Riegel can be traced back to Germany 1365 AD in the form of Rigele von Triemen. Variations of the name include Giralac (Rich Ruler) of Latin origin, the Middle High German Riegell, and the Middle English Riegal.
The spelling of Rigel itself appears in records from Scotland, particularly in the 17th century, when a certain Abraham Rigel was advised to appear in court on 22nd of October, 1690.
So overall, the surname Rigel has many variants, spellings and surnames of origin. It is derived from the German personal name, Giralac (Rich Ruler), as well as having variations in Latin, Middle High German, Middle English and Dutch form. The surname was first recorded in 1365 in the form of Rigele von Triemen, and was used in Scotland in the 17th century.
Famous people with the name Rigel
- Kenneth Rigel: an American physician, professor and researcher in medical oncology.
- Michael Rigel: a previous chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts appointed by President Obama.
- Bob Rigel: an American recording engineer and music producer.
- Frederick Rigel: an American astronomer and founder of the Harvard Observatory.
- Martin Rigel: a German economist and financial analyst.
- Joan Rigel: an American actress, singer and songwriter.
- Charles Rigel: an American journalist and researcher.
- Ronald Rigel: a former president of the University of Missouri.
- Richard Rigel: an American political theorist and historian.
- Carla Rigel: an American-born African-American poet.