Reif Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Reif last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Reif last name
Meaning of the Reif last name: a descendant of Rifo, a pet form of Ricfrid. Reif is a patronymic surname from Rifo, a pet form of Ricfrid, rule and peace, according to Smith. Others connect it with a nickname from reif, ripe or mature, or with a hoop maker. The last name is found in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Austria, and also among Jewish families.
Arms associated with the Reif name
Sharing a surname establishes no coat of arms entitlement; heraldry follows documented individual lineages.
Get your full Reif family history
This is only a glimpse of the Reif story. The full Reif history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Reif coat of arms. Get the full Reif report.
Reif name FAQ
What does the Reif name mean?
A descendant of Rifo, a pet form of Ricfrid.
Where does the Reif surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States and Brazil.
Is there a Reif coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Reif coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Elsdon C. Smith, Dictionary of American Family Names (1956), individual surname entries; modern indexed dictionary entries supersede conflicting interpretations.; Forebears, Surnam.es and individual surname distribution references.