Surname Richtscheidt - Meaning and Origin

Richtscheidt: What does the surname Richtscheidt mean?

The last name Richtscheidt is of German origin, and is a variant spelling of Richtscheit. It is believed to be a locational name, originating from a place name in Germany. The literal meaning of Richtscheidt comes from the two German words ‘Richt’ and ‘Scheit’ – Richt meaning straight or right, and Scheit meaning log of wood. The literal meaning could be interpreted as straight staff or staff of justice.

This last name likely comes from medieval Germany when judicial staff was used to measure boundaries. The people in such positions of authority were likely referred to as Richtscheiten, as they carried a staff of justice that was straight and kept in line with the measuring of properties. Over time, this last name likely became known as Richtscheidt as it evolved over generations.

Today, Richtscheidt is still a relatively popular last name throughout Germany, although it has spread to other countries as well, including Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. People bearing the last name Richtscheidt are typically of German, Swiss, or Austrian descent. They may also be from any region that was historically part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Richtscheidt: Where does the name Richtscheidt come from?

The last name Richtscheidt is most commonly found today in Germany. The origin of the name is Old German and it likely began as a surname derived from a professional title. Richtscheidt is a combination of two parts: Richt, meaning measure or straight, and Scheidt, which is a diminutive added to indicate something small. This suggests that those bearing the Richtscheidt name likely belonged to a measuring profession during the Middle Ages, likely as surveyors or land measurement experts.

Today, Richtscheidt is most often found in the northwestern parts of Germany, particularly in the states of Westphalia and Lower Saxony. There are also sizable Richtscheidt populations in other parts of Germany, particularly in the cities of Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. In addition, there are small populations of Richtscheidts scattered in various parts of other European countries, particularly in France, Switzerland, and Belgium.

Outside of Europe, the most significant Richtscheidt populations can be found in the United States, particularly in the states of California, Texas, and New York. A significant number of Richtscheidt families also immigrated to the United States and Canada in the 19th century, following large-scale emigration movements from Germany to the New World.

As of the last US census, approximately 9,400 individuals were registered with the Richtscheidt last name, suggesting the presence of a fairly large, if scattered, Richtscheidt population throughout the United States and the world.

Variations of the surname Richtscheidt

Richtscheidt is an ancient surname of German origin, and has been spelt in many variations over the centuries. The most common of these include Richtscheid, Richtscheide, Richtscheit, Ritscheidt, Ritscheide, Ratscheidt, Ratscheit, Ritscheid, Ritscheidti, Richtscheidi, Richtscheide, Richscheidt, Richscheidti, Richscheid, Richschead, Richsched, Richscheide, Richcsheid, Richcsheidt, Riccsheid, Riccsheidt, Richtschade, Richtzscheid, Richtschied, Richtshied, Richitcheer, Richschied, Richschride, Richschrit, Richschritt and Richtscheid.

In some cases, the surnames may have been corrupted through misspellings or through transliterations from another language. These variations may includeRotscheits, Rotscheit, Roscheit, Rosenberg, Rosenberger, Rotzperger, Rutscher, Rothscher, Roitcheit, Roitcheger, Rhitcheger, Rhitcheit, Reitcheger, Reicheger, Reitschger, Reitscheger, Reitchegger, Reitgegger, Reitschgger, Reitzscher, Reucher, Reuser, Reiter, Reusacher, Ratscher, Raser, Ratschier, Rastcher, Retscher, Retschier, Retschi, Rotschi, Rottschi and Rothschier.

These surnames all ultimately hail from the German word "Rich", meaning "fair". This word is also found in variants such as Richer, Richter and Riechter - all of which are variants of the same surname.

At first glance, the sheer number of variants and spellings of the Richtscheidt surname can seem overwhelming. However, with a little research, the origin of the surname can be traced and more information can be uncovered about the people who originally bore it.

Famous people with the name Richtscheidt

• Tom Richtscheidt: German bodybuilder and fitness model.
• Howard Richtscheidt: an American former professional basketball player.
• Bonnie Richtscheidt: an American Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
• Frank Richtscheidt: an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s.
• Ellen Richtscheidt: an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
• Hugo Richtscheidt: a German geographer and explorer.
• Ruth Richtscheidt: a German chemical engineer and Professor of Technical Chemistry at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
• Jörg Richtscheidt: a German retired Olympic decathlete.
• Chris Richtscheidt: a German actor known for his film roles such as Battle of the Worlds and Six Steps To Freedom.
• Martin Richtscheidt: a German poet, writer and playwright.

Other surnames

Richtscheid