Surname Reitmair - Meaning and Origin
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Reitmair: What does the surname Reitmair mean?
The last name Reitmair is an occupational name to describe someone who was involved in horse riding. The name is derived from the Middle High German "reiten", which means "to ride" and the Old High German "mar", which means "horse". Reitmairs were likely skilled riders who were employed to manage horses and horse-driven carriages.
The popularity of the name rose during the Middle Ages, after the Medieval period. In Bavaria, more precisely in Middle Franconian region, it was mainly used as a surname for those living in the area. As its name indicates, these people primarily worked in the field of horses, as breeders or riders.
In modern times, the German name is usually limited to Bavaria, where it is considered one of the noble family names of the region. It is also popular in Austria and potentially other parts of Germany. While the spelling of the name may vary in different regions, it still remains an occupational name with the same meaning.
Today, the Reitmair surname continues to reflect the family's roots in horsemanship, as many of its members are still involved in equestrian-related industries. Many of them are trainers, horse owners, breeders or jockeys, while some are still employed to manage horse-drawn carriages. It is a name that is firmly embedded in the history of horse riding and continues to be an important part of the heritage of the people who carry it.
Order DNA origin analysisReitmair: Where does the name Reitmair come from?
The last name Reitmair is common today in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It is a German name, derived from the Middle High German words “reiten” and “mair” meaning “rider” and “famous”. These words together make up the literal translation of “famous rider”. The name is thought to have first originated as an occupational surname.
In the present day, Reitmair is quite a rare surname in Europe. Around 0.001% of the population have the name. This percentage includes the Czech, Austrian, and German regions. The highest concentration of people with this surname is in Germany, with about 0.006% of the population claiming it as their last name. The Austrian population only contains about 0.003% of the Reitmair family name, while the Czech Republic has the lowest concentration with only 0.0001% of Czech citizens holding the name.
Despite its rarity, the Reitmair surname still holds meaning and a sense of history in various European countries. The literal translation of “famous rider” may bring to mind a proud and daring individual, and serve as a reminder of the family’s European roots.
Variations of the surname Reitmair
Reitmair is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the word Reit, which means 'to ride'. Other variants of the name include Reitmeier, Reitmayr, Reitmeyer, Reitmaier, Reitemeyer, Reitmeir, Reitemeir, Reitmey, Reitmey, Reitmeir, and Reitemeyer. All these variants have the same meaning: one who rides. Thus, they all have the same origin and are all spellings of Reitmair.
Reitmair could also be spelled as Reitmeier, which is a slightly more modern version of the same name. Additionally, Reitmayr is a variant of Reitmair. It is a form of the name where the suffix '-mayr' is added to the root 'Reit'. The other variants, such as Reitmeyer, Reitmaier, Reitemeyer, etc. are all similar spellings of the same name. All of them have the root ‘Reit’ as their basis and carry the same meaning of ‘one who rides or is an expert horseman’.
Reitmair can also be found as an Anglicized version of the surname in the form of Rideout or Ridehout. All of these surnames come from the same root, however, over time the spellings have changed and evolved to give us the variants we see today.
Thus, Reitmair is the root of several variants, surnames and spellings. It is an ancient surname that has been passed down through the generations and is still used today. It has a rich history and culture attached to it and is a sign of a proud German heritage.
Famous people with the name Reitmair
- Gustav Reitmair: A former Luger who competed in the 1932 Winter Olympic games.
- Ernst Reitmair: German wrestler who competed in the 1930s and 1940s and earned multiple titles.
- Konrad Reitmair: Possibly the oldest professional skier, Reitmair is known for his ups and downs in the competitive skiing arena, as well as his remarkable stamina and strength.
- Michael Reitmair: A former Ski Jumping World Cup competitor, he was the 4th overall in the 1985/1986 season.
- Bernd Reitmair: An active golfer who won the German championship five times between 1975 and 1982.
- Eric Reitmair: A former American professional cyclist who raced in the Tour de France in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Günter Reitmair: Former ice hockey player who played in the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo and helped Germany win the Bronze.
- Heidi Reitmair: World Cup alpine skier who competed in several major events and won multiple titles.
- Lisa Reitmair: German long-distance runner who competed in prestigious events like the World and European Championships.
- Waltraud Reitmair: A former Winter Olympic bobsledder who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.