Surname Riepold - Meaning and Origin

Riepold: What does the surname Riepold mean?

The last name Riepold is of German origin, coming from the German occupational surname of someone who was a fiddler or a musician. The literal translation of the name is “one who plays the fiddle”.However, many historians suggest the name may be derived from the German word “riep” meaning “twig”, making the surname refer to someone who played a flute which was made out of a twig.

The first recorded mention of the surname Riepold was in 1455 in the city of Thal, Switzerland. Over the centuries, the surname has evolved in different variations, including Riepl, Ripl, Riepel and others. Many of the descendants of the original Riepold family now live in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries throughout the world.

One of the most famous people with this surname is Maria Riepold a German composer with works such as “Geistliches Wiegenlied”, “Du sollst nicht allein wandern”, “Der Abendlied” and other hymns from her time. Descendants of the Riepold family are very proud of their heritage and often pass on the mastery of the fiddle to the generations to come.

In a nutshell, the name Riepold is a meaningful name with a deep history dating back to the 15th century. Even after centuries, the name is still cherished and honored by its descendants.

Riepold: Where does the name Riepold come from?

The last name Riepold is commonly found in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking regions of Europe. It is also found in smaller numbers in the United States, Canada, and other countries with German immigrant populations. According to the last name distribution data from Forebears, the highest population of Riepold's lives in Germany, with 17,767 people bearing the name. It is the 1,239th most common surname in the country. The second-highest number of Riepold's are in Austria, with 1,078 people taking the name, making it the 1,605th most common last name in the country.

Riepold is found in smaller concentrations in the United States, with 691 people bearing the surname. The United States does not rank Riepold on its most common surnames list; however, forebears does note that it is the 43,976th most common last name in the country. Riepold is also fairly common in Canada, with 340 people bearing the surname as of 2018. It ranks 21,974th among most common surnames in Canada, according to forebears.

In short, Riepold is exceptionally common in Germany and Austria. It is also fairly common in the United States and Canada, although not among the top hundred last names in either country.

Variations of the surname Riepold

The surname Riepold is derived from the German name ‘Ruppold’, and is believed to have originated from the area of Swabia, which is now located in the south-western region of Germany. Variants and spellings of the surname include, Riepheld, Riephold, Riepoldt, Rippel, Rippolds, Rippholz, Ripphold, Riepohl, Riepolz, Riepolts and Riepold.

Nowadays, the surname is most commonly observed in Germany, however, it can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, some parts of Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe, particularly areas with German-speaking populations.

Riepold is also used as a surname in Argentina, as a result of German immigration during the 19th century. Argentina is now one of the main countries outside of Europe where Riepold is observed.

Other surnames of similar origin include Ruppold, Rüppolds and Ruppolds. Ruppold is especially common in the region of Swabia, and can frequently appear spelled as Rüppolds and Ruppolds.

All of these surnames are believed to have derived from the personal name Ruppold, which itself is derived from the German personal name ‘Rudolf’, meaning ‘famous wolf’.

In conclusion, an array of variants, spellings and surnames exists for Riepold, all of which have a similar origin. While Riepold is most commonly found in Germany, it is also an observed surname in other parts of Central Europe and countries such as Argentina. Variants include Ruppold, Riepheld, Riephold, Riepoldt, Rippel, Rippolds, Rippholz, Ripphold, Riepohl, Riepolz, Riepolts and Riepold. It is possible that all of these surnames have descended from the German personal name ‘Rudolf’, meaning ‘famous wolf’.

Famous people with the name Riepold

• Günter Riepold: was a German test pilot and former senior official for Daimler-Benz during the Third Reich.
• Robert Riepold: was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.
• Franz Riepold: was a German SS officer and a Holocaust perpetrator during World War II.
• Elisabeth Riepold: is a former diver from Austria. She won a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
• Robert Riepold Jr.: is a German politician affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
• Jens Riepold: is a German football striker currently playing for Würzburger Kickers in the 3. Liga.
• Ilja Riepold: is a German footballer who currently plays for Saarbrücken.
• Paulo Kierulf Riepold: is a Brazilian darts grandmaster from Brazil.
• Ursula Riepold: is a German actress best known for her roles in television shows such as Tatort and München 7.
• Jan Riepold: is a German-born actor and director who lives and works in the United Kingdom.

Other surnames

RiepoltRiepolz