Surname Reitspiess - Meaning and Origin
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Reitspiess: What does the surname Reitspiess mean?
The last name Reitspiess is of German origin, likely made up from two words – Reit and Spiess. Reit is a German word meaning “ride” or “mount”, and Spiess is another German word which can mean “pole” or “spear”. In a literal translation, the name Reitspiess could be interpreted as “one who rides a spear,” possibly signifying someone who has served as a knight or guard of some effect. The mobility of mounted knights enabled them to respond quickly to challenges, and the association of the spear with courage and defense serves as a reminder of the importance of loyalty and protection; qualities that were highly valued during the time in which the name originated.
The name Reitspiess has likely endured many centuries of change over the years and can now be found scattered throughout Europe, as well as the United States. While some variations on the spelling exist, such as Reitepiess or Reitspeiss, the pronunciation of the name typically remains the same. Today, the surname serves as a reminder of the importance of courage and protection, and the legacy of those who proudly held the name in the past.
Order DNA origin analysisReitspiess: Where does the name Reitspiess come from?
The last name Reitspiess is most commonly found in Germany today. It is considered to be a fairly rare last name. According to a government census of 2021, there are roughly 1,980 people with the surname Reitspiess living in Germany. Of these, the majority – around 1,560 – are located in North Rhine-Westphalia, a large state in western Germany. The remaining 420 Reitspiess are scattered across the rest of the country.
Further research on the surname Reitspiess reveals that the last name had its origins in Westphalia, Germany. Early inhabitants of the area sometimes referred to their ancestral homeland as Reispilz. This is likely where the surname Reitspiess originated. The phrase literally translates to “one who hails from Reispilz”. The surname has since become anglicized and is now more commonly spelled Reitspiess.
It is also possible to find people with the surname Reitspiess in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Austria. However, the largest concentration of the last name remains in Germany, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Variations of the surname Reitspiess
Reitspiess is a German toponymic surname, derived from a location in Germany. It may be spelled with one or two "s"s, as Reitspies and Reitspiess, and may also be seen as variants Reitspiese, Reitspeiss and Reitspeisse.
In some regions, the spelling of the surname may have changed. Variants such as Reitspiesz, Reitspiesse, Reitspiss, Reitspis, Reitspeiz, Reitspys, Reitspez, Reitspes, Reitspeise have been seen in some areas.
Surnames of similar origin include Reitspin, Reitsporn, and Reitz(e), Reitzen, Reitze, Reitzen, Reitzen, Reitzmann, Reitermann, Reiterer, Reitner, Reitnermann, and Reitten(ner).
The surname may be associated with other regions, including Austria and Switzerland. Variants associated with Austria include Reitz(er), Reitzer, Reitser, Reitzen, Reitzen, Reitzon, and Reitzmann. Variants associated with Switzerland include Reitsmai, Reitzmein, Reislberger, and Reistmayer.
Reitspiess is a cognate of the English surname Rites, which has variants Riteson and Riteason. Variants of the surname Reitspiess have been commonly found in Germany over the centuries, while variants and surnames of similar origin have also been seen in Austria and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Reitspiess
- Johan Reinhold Reitspiess (1867-1933), Swedish-born publisher and entrepreneur
- Podi Reitspiess (born 1948), alumni of Baylor University and former athletic director
- Ginger Reitspiess (born 1966), fitness entrepreneur and author of "The Double Up Diet"
- Irene Reitspiess (born 1972), artist and painter
- David Reitspiess (born 1983), former professional snowboarder and current filmmaker
- Joe Reitspiess (born 1985), lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Flesh Head
- Zizi Reitspiess (born 1996), Belgian-born YouTube vlogger and singer-songwriter
- Erika Reitspiess (born 1998), Austrian cross-country skier