Origin of your surname and forename !
NomOrigine

Last Name Reil

Discover my family history now

What is the origin of the last name Reil?

The surname Reil is of German origin. It is derived from a variety of given names such as Raginald, Reginald, or Radulphus, which were popular during the Middle Ages. The surname evolved from nicknames or occupational names for someone who worked as a royal official or a messenger. The name is found throughout Germany and is also prevalent in Austria, Switzerland, and some neighboring countries due to historical migrations.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Reil

The meaning and origin of the last name Reil

The surname Reil is of Germanic origin. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word "reil," which means "straight" or "level." This suggests that the original bearer of this name was likely a surveyor, builder, or mason responsible for ensuring surfaces were flat and level. Alternatively, it may have originated from the Old High German word "rīlo," meaning "a rut in the ground," indicating a person who lived near such a feature. The name was also found among the Normans in England, where it is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "reilr," meaning "a rod" or "a stick." Over time, various spellings of the name have appeared, including Real, Reyel, and Ryall, due to phonetic and orthographic changes.

Geographical distribution of the last name Reil

The surname Reil is predominantly found in German-speaking regions, particularly Germany and Austria, where it originates from. It has also been identified in neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Czech Republic, due to historical migration patterns and cultural ties. Additionally, there are notable clusters of people with the Reil surname in other European countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia, reflecting migration waves over centuries. In North America, the name can be found among German and Swiss immigrants who settled predominantly in the United States and Canada during the 19th and early 20th centuries. While the distribution of the Reil surname is primarily European, it has also been identified in other parts of the world as a result of global migration trends.

Variants and spellings of the last name Reil

The surname "Reil" has several variants and spellings across different regions and time periods. Some of these include:

1. Reyle - This variant is most commonly found in France, though it may also be present in other French-speaking countries or communities.
2. Real - This spelling is predominantly used in Spanish-speaking regions but can also appear among German-speaking populations.
3. Riel - Pronounced similarly to "Reil," this variant has a slightly different origin and is most common among people of Jewish descent, particularly those from Ashkenazi backgrounds.
4. Rayl - A less common spelling that may be found in English-speaking countries or communities.
5. Reyll - This is a rare variant that might be encountered in German-speaking regions.
6. Ryel - Another uncommon spelling that could potentially be found among English speakers.
7. Riell - A less frequent spelling, this variation may appear among Italian or French populations.

Famous people with the last name Reil

Notable individuals bearing the surname Reil include:

1. Richard Dedekind Reil (1759-1813), a German psychiatrist and co-founder of the Berlin Society for the Acquired Improvement of the Human Understanding, who is often considered one of the founders of modern psychiatry.

2. Johann Christian Reil (1789-1854), a German physician and natural scientist, also known as the "father of forensic medicine" for his work in the field of legal medicine.

3. Robert H. Reil (1926-2015), an American physicist and academic administrator, who served as the Chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles from 1980 to 1990.

4. Michael Reil (born 1953), a German actor, known for his roles in movies such as "The NeverEnding Story" and "The White Ribbon".

5. Sarah Reil (born 1993), a German racing cyclist, who won the German National Road Race Championships in 2017.

Genealogical research on the last name Reil

The surname Reil is of German origin and is believed to have derived from various locations in Germany, such as Reilsheim and Reuthlingen in Württemberg, or Rheldorf in Rhineland-Palatinate. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be "Reidel" in the mid-14th century. Over time, the surname spread across Europe due to migrations and settlement patterns, including movements to Scandinavia, Russia, and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages. In North America, the Reil family was among those who emigrated during the 18th and 19th centuries in search of religious freedom or economic opportunities, with notable groups settling in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other parts of the United States and Canada. Notable individuals with the surname include Karl Friedrich Burdach-Reil, a German physician and botanist, and Charles Augustus Reil, an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

NomOrigine Team
About the author :

NomOrigine Team

Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.

Last updated :

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Messenger Telegram

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

#1 Reiaj

Last name • surnames > reiaj

The last name "Reiaj" does not have a specific origin or meaning in English. It is not a common surname and may be a variant spelling or a rare surname with unknown origins.

#2 Reiarfi

Last name • surnames > reiarfi

The last name Reiarfi appears to have origins in Iceland. It is likely a variation of an Icelandic surname, possibly derived from a combination of the Icelandic words "reiði" mean...

#3 Reichel

Last name • surnames > reichel

The surname Reichel is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "reiche," which means rich or wealthy. The name was often given to someone who lived near a ...

#4 Reichenbach

Last name • surnames > reichenbach

The surname Reichenbach is of German origin. It is derived from the German words "reich," meaning "rich" or "wealthy," and "bach," meaning "stream" or "brook." This surname likely ...

#5 Reicher

Last name • surnames > reicher

The surname "Reicher" has German origins. It is derived from the Middle High German word "reih," meaning row, rank or line, and the suffix "-er," denoting a person who does somethi...

#6 Reichert

Last name • surnames > reichert

The surname "Reichert" is of German origin. It is derived from the Germanic personal name "Ricohard," which means "powerful ruler" or "brave ruler." The name was composed of the el...

#7 Reichle

Last name • surnames > reichle

The surname Reichle is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "reiche" which means rich or powerful. It was originally a nickname for someone who was wealthy or...

#8 Reichling

Last name • surnames > reichling

The surname Reichling is of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "reich," meaning rich, powerful, or noble, and "-ing" which was a common suffix in medieval G...

#9 Reichow

Last name • surnames > reichow

The last name Reichow is of German origin. It is a variant of the surname Reiche, which means "rich" or "wealthy" in German. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone wh...

#10 Reiff

Last name • surnames > reiff

The surname Reiff is of German origin. It is derived from various place names and personal names in Germany, primarily from the Old High German "riu" meaning "river" or "stream" an...

#11 Reifrom

Last name • surnames > reifrom

The last name Reifrom is of German origin. It is a variant of the surname Reif, which means "ripe" or "mature" in German. It likely originated as a nickname for someone who was con...

#12 Reifs

Last name • surnames > reifs

The surname Reifs is of German origin. It is a habitational name derived from any of numerous small places so named in Germany. These locations are typically named for a field or c...

#13 Reig

Last name • surnames > reig

The surname Reig (also spelled as Rey, Ray, Rhea, etc.) is of Old French and Germanic origins. It originally comes from the Old High German "reihh" or the Old French "rei," which b...

#14 Reigo

Last name • surnames > reigo

The last name "Reigo" is of Estonian origin. It is derived from the personal name Reigo, which in turn originated from the old Estonian name Räägu.

#15 Reihan

Last name • surnames > reihan

The last name Reihan is of Arabic origin. It is derived from the Arabic word "rayhan," which means "sweet-scented herb" or "fragrant plant."