Surname Rehmstedt - Meaning and Origin

Rehmstedt: What does the surname Rehmstedt mean?

The last name Rehmstedt is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German words ‘Reh’ and 'Stedt.’ Reh is the German word for “roe deer” or “roe” and Stedt is derived from the Old High German word “Steida” which means outpost. Combining these two words, the literal meaning of Rehmstedt is “roe deer outpost.”

The name likely comes from the Germanic religion which saw deer as sacred animals. This connection with sacred deer is also found in other German place names such as Rohrbach and Rohrberg, which both translate to “roe deer stream” and “roe deer mountain” respectively. Additionally, there are numerous German towns and villages with the name Rehmsdorf, which translates to “roe deer village” and likely had the same origin as the last name Rehmstedt.

The earliest known occurrence of the name is from the 15th century in the form of Reimsted, and the spelling was likely changed to Rehmstedt over time. Early bearers of the name were most likely from the Rhineland region of Germany, near the modern cities of Dortmund and Essen. The many versions of the name still exist today throughout Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, as well as other countries with names such as Reimersdahl, Reimstahl, Reimersdorff and many more.

Overall, Rehmstedt is a name of German origin with a literal meaning of “roe deer outpost” and likely associated with the veneration of sacred deer in Germanic religion.

Rehmstedt: Where does the name Rehmstedt come from?

The last name Rehmstedt is most common today in Germany, particularly in a region known as North Rhine-Westphalia. North Rhine-Westphalia is located in the western part of Germany and borders the Netherlands to the west.

The surname Rehmstedt is fairly common in North Rhine-Westphalia, with 1,983 people in that region having the last name. The largest concentration of the name is in Regierungsbezirk Detmold, more specifically in Paderborn, where 664 people have that last name.

The historic origin of the name Rehmstedt is in the Germanic language, and literally translates to "royal common". The name was first used for a small village dating back to 1342, located along the Werre river in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In modern times, the last name Rehmstedt is associated with many different professions. These professions include dentist, doctor, lawyer, politician, and academic. There are Rehmstedt's in most walks of life today, but the surname remains most common in Germany, particularly in and around North Rhine-Westphalia.

Variations of the surname Rehmstedt

The surname Rehmstedt is most commonly spelled as Rehmstedt. It is also spelled as Rehmsted and Raemstedt in some cases.

Variants of the surname Rehmstedt can include Rehmer, Rehmert, Rehmeyer, and other spellings like Raymstid, Rahmsteed, Reimate, Reemts, and even Rahmstatt. These variants and spellings can be found in several German and Dutch census records.

Common surnames with a similar origin as Rehmstedt are Rehm, Riemstedt, Riemekasten, Rhemet, Rahmstorf, and Raemsty. These surnames have different root words and meanings from Rehmstedt, but still stem from the same source and region of Germany.

Some Jews with the surname Rehmstedt are known to have changed their surnames in places they migrated to, such as the United States and Canada, due to anti-semitism and being ostracized from society. Some Jews with the surname Rehmstedt changed it to Remington, Ramsden, and Raymstein.

Surnames with other origins but pronounced and spelled similarly to Rehmstedt include Rehmstädter, Rehmeder, and Rehimstedt. These are likely to be derived from similar roots and be related to the surname Rehmstedt, but their origins are not as strongly linked.

Famous people with the name Rehmstedt

• Matt Rehmstedt: Former NFL Football Player.
• Jacob Rehmstedt: German-American Actor.
• Otto Rehmstedt: German Scientist and Nobel Prize in Chemistry Winner.
• Elizabeth Rehmstedt: American Politician and Former Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
• Tessa Rehmstedt: Austrian Politician and Member of the Austrian Green Party.
• Stephanie Rehmstedt: American Physician, Surgeon, and Credentialed Medical Assistant.
• Johann Rehmstedt: German Physiologist and Professor of Comparative Anatomy at the University of Bremen.
• Anna Rehmstedt: German Artist and Art Teacher.
• Tim Rehmstedt: German Entrepreneur and Founder of Social Media Platform “Diaspora”.
• Tyler Rehmstedt: American Actor and Voice Artist.

Other surnames

Rehmstede