Surname Rief - Meaning and Origin
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Rief: What does the surname Rief mean?
Rief is a German-language surname. It is a variant of the surname Riefenstahl, and in some cases can be traced back to a town in Bavaria called Riefenstahl. The name is derived from the German words "Riese" or giant and "Zähle" or count. This indicates that an ancestor of those with the surname Rief may have worked for a noble family in the area.
Historically, the name likely referred to someone who worked as a steward, as the name suggests someone employed in a managerial or bureaucratic role to protect the rights of a noble family. Those with the surname Rief could also have held a position of service in a court.
Today, the surname Rief is seen as an old-fashioned, respectable name, reflecting on its roots and meaning of responsibility. It is possible that those carrying the name could have received it from one of their ancestors who held a reputable title or post of service.
In modern times, the surname Rief is still found throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States. Many bearers of this surname come from cultural backgrounds which have a deep-rooted appreciation for family values and responsibility.
Order DNA origin analysisRief: Where does the name Rief come from?
The last name Rief is most common today in Bavaria, Germany. It is derived from Middle High German and translates to “ruff”. According to the 1990 census, it was the 549th most common surname in Germany.
Outside of Germany, the surname appears in countries around the world, but at lower frequencies. It is seen in Austria, Switzerland, the United States, France, Romania, and Mexico.
In the United States, Rief has been found in the states of California, Indiana, Texas, and New Jersey. It is an uncommon name and there are typically fewer than 250 households that bear this name in the United States.
In Brazil, the surname Rief is seen in the states of Acre, Amapá, Rondônia, Pará, and Sâo Paulo. It is most common in the northern areas of Brazil, and is typically found at a lower frequency compared to other countries.
In Mexico, the surname Rief has been documented to originate from German immigrants who migrated there in the 19th century. This surname is still found in some family names over multiple generations in some locations.
In conclusion, the surname Rief is most common today in Bavaria, Germany, but can also be found in other countries around the world at varying rates.
Variations of the surname Rief
The surname Rief is an occupational surname of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German noun "Rief" meaning a hunting cry. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Rief are Reef, Rieff, Ryef, Reif, Ryf, Reeff, Reeb, Reeve, Reave, Reib, Reibb, Ride, Resch, Reibin, Reichert, Reish, Reusch, Reisch, and Rys.
The variant spellings of Rief give insight into the often blurred lines of medieval spelling. In many cases, the presence of umlauts and ligatures was disregarded in the official written record, as well as regional spelling habits and phonetic corruptions. This is why Rief can also be spelled as Reef, Ryef, and Ryf.
The occupational roots of the Rief surname can be seen in some of the alternate forms, such as Reib, Reish, and Reichert. Such variants also appear when surnames were adapted by other countries, such as in the case of the United States where several German-American variants of Reif can be found, including Reeb, Reeve, and Reave.
In addition to Germany, the surname Rief or its variants can be found in countries that often have distant relations with the original homeland. Examples include France, England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, and Austria. In many of these countries, spellings of the original German surname could have been adapted to local language and customs.
The name Rief can provide a tangible link to an individual’s ancestors and their place in history. As with many surnames, variants, spellings, and alternate surnames expand connected families’ understanding of the origins of their surname.
Famous people with the name Rief
- Barry Rief: An American musician from the 1950s who created the hit "Oh, What A Dream".
- Tim Rief: An American actor who appeared in movies such as The Sandlot and Angels in the Outfield.
- Tammy Rief: An American actress who was popular in the 1980s and 90s who starred in films such as The Goonies and Date Night.
- Anne-Marie Rief: A French dancer and choreographer who is particularly known for her work as an ensemble member of the renown Sauterelle Dance Theater in Marseilles.
- Karl Rief: A German chemist who significantly contributed to the field of air pollution control, winning the Carl Duisberg Medal in 1978.
- Bill Rief: A former American football coach who coached multiple college and university teams over the course of his career, leading two of them to victorious bowl victories.
- Rick Rief: An American entrepreneur who founded Recon Records in 1989 and co-founded a number of other record labels over the years.
- Joel Rief: An American race car driver who has competed in the Nascar Cup Series since 2005, winning three races.
- Steven Rief: A prominent Austrian painter known for his vivid scenes of the Italian and Austrian landscapes.
- Scott Rief: An American magician and illusionist who has been entertaining audiences since the 1980s and even invented his own signature magical effects.