Surname Reicherd - Meaning and Origin
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Reicherd: What does the surname Reicherd mean?
The surname Reicherd is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German "rihhi" and "hart" which means "rich" and "hard/strong", respectively. Therefore, the literal translation of Reicherd is "rich and hard", or "strong and rich". This name might have originally represented a nickname for someone considered powerful or wealthy. It also could have been a name given to leaders or individuals of high status within a community or region. Like many European surnames, the spelling may have changed over centuries due to various factors such as emigration and regional dialects, with possible variations including Reichart, Reichardt, and Reichert. Today, individuals with the surname Reicherd can be found in different parts of the world, testament to the migration and expansion of families bearing this name.
Order DNA origin analysisReicherd: Where does the name Reicherd come from?
The last name Reicherd is believed to be of German origin and is still very common in Germany today. It is also found in regions of Europe like Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Franken in Bavaria, and in the Rhineland-Palatinate. In the United States, the Reicherd surname is most common in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. In addition, the name Reicherd is found in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, the earliest record of the Reicherd name is believed to be that of Joseph Reicherd (or Reichard), who arrived in Philadelphia in 1751. His children and grandchildren later spread out across Pennsylvania andWisconsin and some eventually made their way into Ohio and New York. The Reicherd surname was also one of the earliest German families to settle in Canada, arriving in Nova Scotia in 1750.
Today, the Reicherd surname is ranked among the top 10,000 surnames in the United States and continues to grow in both frequency and geographic range. Reicherds can be found in all fifty states, though they are most populous in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
No matter where you are in the world, it is likely that you will encounter a Reicherd.
Variations of the surname Reicherd
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Reicherd are Reichert, Reicher, Reichard, Reichart, Richart, Rihe, Riche(s), Richter, Rickard, Rychart, and Rykard.
Reicherd is generally believed to be a German name, derived from the German personal name "Reichard" or "Ricard," which is a form of the Latin name "Richard." The suffix "-ert," which means "brave," was added in later years to give the surname a stronger meaning. Over time, the "d" at the end was dropped out, and the spelling variants became more numerous.
In German, Reichert is very common and is likely the most widespread variant of the original surname. Reicher is also an acceptable variant, but is used less frequently. In some other German-speaking parts of Europe, variants such as Reichart and Richart are more frequent.
In the United States, the variants Rihe, Riche(s) and Richter are most common. These variations are likely due to immigration patterns of German immigrants to the US in the early 19th century. Rickard and Rychart both became widespread in the US and Canada, as they often had their surnames anglicized due to immigration paperwork. Rykard is less common, but still a significant part of the spelling variation in the US.
Regardless of the spelling, the surname has the same Germanic origin and was derived from the Latin personal name "Richard." The meaning of the surname is "brave," which reflects the German suffix "-ert" that was added to the original form.
Famous people with the name Reicherd
- Eric Reichert: an American politician and businessman from the state of Texas.
- Richard Reicherd: an American actor and film producer.
- Kurt Reichert: a German criminal defense attorney and author.
- Christopher Reicherd: a social media strategist and entrepreneur.
- Mark Reicherd: an American musician and songwriter.
- Robert Reicherd: a German philosopher and university professor.
- Steve Reicherd: a former NFL defensive tackle.
- Bill Reichert: a venture capitalist and entrepreneur.
- Kyle Reicherd: an American soccer player.
- Christina Reicherd: an American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist.