Surname Riefert - Meaning and Origin
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Riefert: What does the surname Riefert mean?
The last name Riefert is of German origin and is a variant of the more common spelling Rieffert. The literal translation of Riefert is “to raise”, and is believed to refer to a profession of someone who is a “raiser” or a “lifter” of some sort, possibly a laborer who hefts heavy objects. It is also possible that the name evolved from a diminutive form of the name “Rieffe” or “Riefe”, which is also of German origin and means “forest”.
The last name Riefert was most popular in the early 18th century, when it was most commonly associated with the German regions of Saxony and Bavaria. During this period, it was widely employed by the poorer and lower middle classes who were experts in the aforementioned trade of lifting and carrying materials. During this time, the name was also common among some refugees who were forced to flee their homes as a result of religious or economic constraints.
Throughout the 19th century and into the modern day, the name Riefert has started to grow in popularity once more, as more families began to adopt this surname in both Germany and other countries across the world. The most prominent Riefert family in modern times is that of the Hamburg-based firm “Riefert & Riefert GmbH”, which specializes in metal casting and precision engineering. In the search for their family origins, many modern-day Rieferts often inquire about their geographical roots or even more specifically, the origin of the trade that their ancestors practiced.
Order DNA origin analysisRiefert: Where does the name Riefert come from?
The surname Riefert is most commonly found in Germany today. It is thought to be an occupational name for a vintner, or someone who made or sold wine. The name originated near the German-Austrian border in the small region of Bavaria. The meaning of Riefert itself is believed to be the combination of two words: 'Reif' which translates to 'ripened' and 'Ert' which means 'earth'. Therefore, the name literally means 'one who ripens the earth,' which relates back to the wine trade.
The name began to spread beyond the region throughout Germany during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but there is evidence of people living with the name as far back as the 1100s. From Germany, the surname began to spread to other countries throughout Europe, although there are far fewer Rieferts in other countries than in Germany.
In modern days, the name has gained some prominence due to its use in a few German films and books. It is also used in America by people of German ancestry. In the US Census of 2000, there were over 500 people who reported the name Riefert.
The name Riefert is still fairly common in Germany and is still used as an occupational name for vintners and wine merchants. It is also sometimes seen in books and films, and can be found throughout Europe, as well as in the United States, but it is most common in Germany.
Variations of the surname Riefert
Riefert is a German surname originating from the Upper Rhine area. Riefert is actually just a phonetic spelling of the ancestral surname Riefer. The Riefer surname can be found in various parts of the German speaking world, including southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and parts of northern Italy.
In some instances, the Riefer name has been changed to other spellings depending on the region in which the family are settled. Variants of Riefer include Rief, Rieffer, Riefert, Reifer and Reiffer. Many of these variants often occur because of dialectical differences, accents when speaking, and difficulty in reading handwritten letters and documents.
Additionally, due to migration and emigration of families to different parts of Europe and the world, over time variants of the Riefer/Riefert surname have developed. These include names such as Reif, Reiffe, Reiff, Reich, Rieffe, Rief and Riffe.
In conclusion, it is likely that Riefert is simply the most common modern spelling of the Riefer surname, although, depending on where the family have settled, many alternative spellings of the same name may also exist.
Famous people with the name Riefert
- Madison Riefert: Miss Pennsylvania USA 2018
- Joe Riefert: A business software consultant and CEO of LayerOne
- Leo Riefert: A late German actor
- Yvonne Riefert: German educator
- Tony Riefert: Former NFL running back
- Harald Riefert: German former motorcycle speedway rider
- Bill Riefert: Former professional ice hockey player
- Stefan Riefert: German contemporary visual artist
- Felix Riefert: German football defender
- Sepp Riefert: Austrian former biathlete