Surname Reutter - Meaning and Origin
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Reutter: What does the surname Reutter mean?
The last name Reutter is of German origin and is a regional name derived from the place where the original bearer of the name once resided or held land. It is believed to come from the Middle High German word "reuttaere", meaning someone who plowed or harrowed land.
In ancient times, most people in Germany knew only their first names - making it difficult to trace individuals and families until the Roman Empire began recording surnames in the 11th century. These names were taken from a variety of sources including place names, professions, or nicknames.
Those with the Reutter surname would have most likely been farmers who practiced crop rotation and the use of fertilizers to feed the small family farms. They were often land owners and prominent members in their local communities. The Reutter surname is most commonly found in the Germanic speaking parts of Europe, particularly Central Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
Over time, many of those with the Reutter surname moved around to other parts of Europe, particularly during WWI, WW2, and throughout the 20th century. Today, many people with the Reutter surname speak German, Hungarian, Croatian, and other languages, making this an interesting and diverse surname which is a testament to the cultural mobility of the people who bore it over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisReutter: Where does the name Reutter come from?
The last name Reutter is most commonly found in parts of Germany today. It is an occupational surname that originated in Bavaria in southwestern Germany that was derived from the Middle High German word riuteren which means ‘to stir, agitate, have (in its modern variation reutern). It refers to someone who worked in the paper or printing business and was responsible for stirring the paper pulp or stirring the mordant in dyeing.
The surname was common in several German states, particularly Bavaria, and later spread through parts of Europe, such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and France. Today, it is still most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The surname is relatively rare in the United States, only appearing as a last name 0.001% of the time according to the US Census Bureau.
In addition to its occupational background, the surname is also associated with nobility. In 1661, Johann Jakob Reutter was awarded the title of nobility in the Austrian and later Prussian House of Order, and the family has maintained a prominent presence in Bavaria to this day.
Variations of the surname Reutter
The surname Reutter is derived from the Old German word "rotere", which means a cutter or a fabric-cutter. The variants of the surname Reutter include Reuter, Reuthe, Reuther, Retter, Retterich, Roter and Roth. Additional surnames that derive from the same origin include Rotter, Rutger, Rutkiewicz and Rotchiefer. Depending on the region, the surname might also be spelled as Rűter, Rütter, Rüther or Rütter. It is believed that these variants come from a mistranslation of the Old German word for cutter.
Generally, the surnames Reutter and its variants are spread across many countries with the most significant concentrations found in Germany and Austria. The Reutter surname is most prevalent in Germany, followed by Austria and then in other German-speaking countries. Meanwhile, the variants Rotter and Retter are more likely to appear in bothGermany and Brazil. Additionally, the spelling Roth appears more prominently in French-speaking countries, and the variation Rutger is popular in the Netherlands.
The Reutter surname is also traceable back to nobility. Count Friedrich Wilhelm von Reutter, from the name von Reutter, was a well-known noble family in Hungary. This family can be traced back to the 14th century. The Reutter surname is also associated with a regimental flag that is registered with the City of Augsburg, in Germany. It belonged to a military unit known as the Reutter Regiment.
The Reutter surname is highly varied and can be found across many different countries, spellings, and even amongst nobility. Its significance is held in both German-speaking and French-speaking countries, with many of its variants being widely used.
Famous people with the name Reutter
- Adele Reutter: A dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Adele Reutter was a Hawaiian national champion in the 1960s and has had a long, successful career in the field of dance.
- Fred Reutter: An American film actor, Fred Reutter had a prolific career in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s, appearing in well-known productions such as the Tarzan series and Abbott and Costello's African Scorcher.
- Lawrence Reutter: An American artist, Lawrence Reutter has been a successful painter and sculptor for over four decades, working in various mediums ranging from oil-based to watercolor.
- Tim Reutter: An American musician, Tim Reutter is a jazz trumpeter and composer who has played with ensembles such as the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
- Martina Reutter: A German historian, Martina Reutter is the author of numerous books examining German and European history during the early modern and modern periods.
- Christopher Reutter: An Austrian composer, Christopher Reutter has been successful in both the television and film industries, composing music for well-known productions such as the Canadian period drama Reign and the 2018 thriller Ghost Stories.
- John Reutter: A retired American football player, John Reutter starred at defensive tackle for the University of Tennessee in the late 1970s before going on to play in the NFL for ten years.
- Elisabeth Reutter: An Austrian entrepreneur, Elisabeth Reutter is the founder of the Wienerwald Group, a Vienna-based hotel and restaurant chain.
- William Reutter: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, William Reutter wrote extensively for the Los Angeles Times and has won numerous journalistic awards for his coverage of international affairs in the Middle East and beyond.