Surname Reißl - Meaning and Origin
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Reißl: What does the surname Reißl mean?
The last name Reißl is derived from the German word "reißen," which means "to tear or rip." This name likely came from an ancestor who was involved in some form of work with fabric. This could have included working with textiles, weaving, sewing, leatherworking, or any other profession that required tearing cloth.
The name could also have emerged from a particular location where the ancestor lived—a town or village known for cloth-related work. The Middle High German word "riz," which means "brushwood," could also be a source of this name.
Beyond fabric, the name Reißl can also suggest a person who was disruptive or quarrelsome, as this is another potential meaning of the root word "reißen." It may have referred to someone who started arguments and affairs, especially over important decisions.
In the end, the meaning and origin of Reißl remain unclear. Despite speculation, the exact source of the name remains a mystery. What is known is that, since the 16th century, the name has been common in the German-speaking world. Today, many people with the Reißl last name are found in Austria, Germany, and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisReißl: Where does the name Reißl come from?
Reißl is generally considered to be a German surname deriving from a word meaning "dweller by the creek". It is particularly common in the southern and southeastern regions of Germany and can also be found in Austria. In the modern era, the greatest concentration of individuals surnamed Reißl in Germany is in Bavaria, particularly in the Upper Palatinate region, where it is the sixth most frequent surname. Other areas where Reißl is common include Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Saxony, and the Rhineland-Palatinate region.
Outside of Germany, Reißl also occurs in small numbers in several other countries including Slovakia, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The surname is Park also found in the United States, where it is likely derived from immigrants who arrived in the U.S. from German-speaking countries in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the U.S., California and New York are the states with the highest number of individuals surnamed Reißl.
Overall, Reißl is a surname found primarily in German and Austrian speaking regions, though it does show up in small numbers in other countries. For the most part, the density of the surname clusters around southeastern and southern Germany, with the highest concentration in the Bavarian Upper Palatinate.
Variations of the surname Reißl
Reißl is a German surname that originated in the medieval period and has been found throughout Europe. Common variants of the name are Riebel, Riessle, Reissle, Reissl, Reißel, Reisel, and Rebel. Additionally, some variants of the name include Reibel, Reuesel, Rivera and Riva.
Due to the phonetic nature of the German language, many spellings of the surname can be found in different countries and time periods. For instance, the name has been spelled as Rissle in Bavaria, Rössel in the Rhineland, and Riesle in Switzerland.
Variants of the name often cross language barriers as well. For instance, the French version of the name, Riolla, appears commonly in France, Belgium, and other European countries. And the Spanish form of the name, Riola, is found often in northern and central Spain.
Popular variations of Reißl are often encountered, including Reisell, Reißer, Rieser, Reichel, Rechtel, and Reugele. Similarly other modified versions of the name like Reis, Reise, Reisdorff, Riss-perger, Sanders, and Ringström are quite popular.
In short, the many variants, spellings, and other related surnames of Reißl reflect the ever-changing nature of language and geography throughout Europe. Whether the kinds are encountered in Germany or France, the United States or Mexico, Reißl stands as an ancient and enduring surname that has seen many spellings spread far and wide.
Famous people with the name Reißl
- Helga Reißl: Austrian alpine skier who competed in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics
- Karoline Reißl: German-Austrian curler
- Dina Reißl: German actress
- Ursula Reißl: German alpine skier who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics
- Robert Reißl: Austrian actor
- Karl Reißl: Austrian composer
- Marco Reißl: German footballer
- Erika Reißl: Austrian handball player
- Claudia Reißl: German former swimmer
- Andreas Reißl: Austrian actor