Surname Ridiger - Meaning and Origin
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Ridiger: What does the surname Ridiger mean?
Ridiger is a surname of German and Dutch origin. Some believe it is derived from the Middle High German word "Rudiger." Others suggest the name is derived from the Old German name "Ridiger," meaning "counselor and ruler."
The Ridiger surname first appeared in records beginning in the fifteenth century when Jacob Pridiger was a minister in Liebenwalde in the Brandenburg region of Germany. Over the centuries, the original form of the name mutated and evolved.
In the Netherlands, the Ridiger family reached prominence during the 1500s. In the Spanish Netherlands, a Rudiger family was established in 1583.
In the United States, the Ridiger and Ridgeway families can be traced back to the 1600s, when they arrived in the original Thirteen Colonies. By the nineteenth century, the surname was found in numerous records, from Midwestern church records to the records of immigrants crossing the Atlantic.
Today, the Ridiger surname is common throughout the world. People with this surname reside in the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, and many other countries.
The Ridiger surname is an ancient and revered one, and those who bear it continue to be proud of their family's heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisRidiger: Where does the name Ridiger come from?
The last name Ridiger is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia. In the United States, the last name is most numerous in Pennsylvania and Ohio, primarily originating from German immigrants who relocated to the area in the late 19th century. Most of them settled in small towns and rural areas of the Great Lakes region.
In Canada, the last name can be found in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. It is believed that the Ridiger name is of German or Dutch origin, and immigrated into Canada from Germany in the late 19th century. The last name may have been derived from the German word “Ried” which means reeds.
In Germany, the last name is most commonly found in Bavaria, with the regions of Upper and Lower Franconia having the highest population of Ridigers. The origin of the last name in Germany dates back to the 1600s, when Germany was still comprised of hundreds of small duchies, regions, and kingdoms.
In Austria and Slovakia, the last name is most common in the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the time of the Austro-Prussian War. The name typically traces back to German immigrants who moved to the region in the late 19th century.
Although the last name Ridiger is mostly concentrated in the areas mentioned above, it can also be found in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Ridiger
The surname Ridiger has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Riediger, Riedinger, Ried egber, Rei diger, Reidiger, Reidinger, Reidigar, Reideger, Reddiger, Redinger, Reddigar, Reedegger, Riedegger, Riediger, and Riedinger.
The origin of these variants could come from an Old High German name, Rodger, which means "fame" and "spear." It could also originate from the Middle High German name, "Rüdiger," which means "powerful leader"—or the slightly older version, "Hrodger," which means "renowned spear."
The spelling variation of Ridiger, Riedinger, can be found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Other spellings, such as Reidiger, are found in certain regions of the United States and Canada, notably Pennsylvania and North Dakota.
The most common spelling of this surname, however, is Reidiger. Reidiger could also come from an Old German personal name, Regiger. This name combines the elements "ric," meaning "power" and "ger," meaning "spear."
In addition to the above mentioned variants, Ridiger could also be pronounced as "reediger," or "ruediger." The spelling variation "Ru-diger" with a hyphen is not quite as common, but is sometimes found.
No matter what spelling or surname history you look into, one thing is certain: Ridiger has an interesting and varied past.
Famous people with the name Ridiger
- Jared Ridiger: professional American soccer player who currently plays for USL Championship side OKC Energy.
- Rich Ridiger: retired American baseball player who played the majority of his professional career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- David Ridiger: Israeli former professional basketball player who played in the Israel Basketball Premier League.
- Robert Ridiger: German astronomer and historian of science. He is most well known for his works on Johannes Kepler.
- William Ridiger: American politician who was the chairman of the Utah Republican Party from 2007 to 2009.
- Dr. Steven Ridiger: professional football player for the Carolina Panthers from 1993 to 2003.
- Mary Ridiger: professional golf player who competed in the 1996 Women's British Open.
- Jürg Ridiger: Swiss Paralympic runner who won two gold medals in the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics.
- Ben Ridiger: former New Zealand track and field athlete who represented his country in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
- Nancy Ridiger: American actress best known for her roles in television series such as Everwood and Charmed.