Surname Rieb - Meaning and Origin
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Rieb: What does the surname Rieb mean?
The last name Rieb is of German origin and is a variant of the name Riebe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "riebe" which means a tributary and could be used as a nickname for someone who lived near a stream or river.
The name Rieb has also been used to refer to the ribbons worn by the maître d’hotel of a large banquet. The name was therefore associated with the idea of having high social status as well as the ability to have control over others.
When used as a surname, the name Rieb could point to a family from a small hamlet in Silesia Germany, or it may signify someone who crossed the Elbe river sometime in their family's past. It has also been used in the military as a designation for those assigned to administrative duties.
In modern times, the name Rieb is still used in Germany with the same meaning it has had for centuries, and it can also refer to someone by the name of Peter Rieb, who was a chemist in the early 19th century. A few other more recent people bearing the same name include German computer scientist Jörg Rieb and American professional baseball player Jared Rieb.
So, the last name Rieb can signify a number of different meanings based on its origin. It could be used to describe someone who is from the small hamlet in Silesia, a person of high social standing, or someone of military background. It could also refer to someone with the same name as the chemist Peter Rieb or the baseball player Jared Rieb.
Order DNA origin analysisRieb: Where does the name Rieb come from?
The last name Rieb is most commonly found in Germany. In fact, it is one of the most common surnames in the country with over 6,400 individuals bearing the name today. The name is concentrated mostly around the southern states in The Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg where nearly 85% of people with the surname reside.
The exact origin of the name is not known, although it is believed to be derived from the German word 'Rieb' which means 'meadow'. It is thought that the name was likely taken on by individuals who were living near or working in meadows.
The name began to spread across Europe during the 19th century when many German migrants began to seek new opportunities in other places. This led to a surge in emigration which saw the name Rieb spread to other countries including the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Rieb surname is still fairly common today although it is slightly less widespread than it was a few decades ago. However, it is still a fairly popular name in countries like Germany where people with the last name are still active and somewhat visible members of their communities.
Variations of the surname Rieb
The surname "Rieb" has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. This surname is especially popular in Germany, Austria, and Swabia. It is most likely derived from the German word "Reiben," which means "to rub."
The most common variants of Rieb are Reib, Reible, and Reiben. All three of these variants are found in the German language. Additionally, the spelling of the surname can also be changed to Rihb, Reibb, Reibbe, and Reibes.
The surnames Reihl, Reihle, Reihles, and Rehle are believed to be closely related to the surname Rieb. These variants are found mostly in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Likewise, other spelling variants of Rieb in other countries include Reibe in Austria, Reiva in Sweden, Ter Reh in Luxembourg, and Rybak in Poland. The surname Rieb is also related to the surnames Rybakoff and Rebe.
In the United States, the surname Rieb is often spelled as Reeb, Riebe, Reebes, Riibes, or Reibs.
Overall, the surname Rieb has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that are popular in Germany, Austria, and many other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Rieb
- Timothy Rieb: Timothy Rieb is an American former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball from 2009 to 2017 for the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals.
- Greg Rieb: Greg Rieb is a former professional American football player who played offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) from 1991 to 2001.
- Kayla Rieb: Kayla Rieb is a Canadian curler who represented Canada at the 2019 World Junior Curling Championships.
- Steve Rieb: Steve Rieb is an American puppeteer and actor, best known as the voice of Cookie Monster on the popular children’s television show Sesame Street.
- Chris Rieb: Chris Rieb is a professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).
- Lee Rieb: Lee Rieb is an American actor, artist, singer, and songwriter best known for his roles in the films The Butterfly Effect and Jackie Brown.
- Joanne Rieb: Joanne Rieb was an American actress, best known for her roles in the television series The Jeffersons and CHiPs.
- Sean Rieb: Sean Rieb is an American electric blues and rock musician, best known as the former lead vocalist and bassist of the rock band Sublime.
- Laurence Rieb: Laurence Rieb is a Canadian lawyer and former president of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Arts, the country’s largest guild of media professionals.