Find out how popular the last name Reichard is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Reichard.

Reichard, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Reichard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reichard in America

Reichard is the 8650th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reichard surname appeared 3,799 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Reichard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reichard to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Reichard

The surname Reichard has its origins in Germany, emerging during the Middle Ages between the 6th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Germanic words "ric" meaning powerful or wealthy, and "hard" meaning strong or brave. The name was likely bestowed upon an individual who possessed these qualities, or perhaps resided in an area known for its affluence or resilience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reichard can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus," a collection of historical documents from the region of Anhalt, Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as Reichart, Reychart, and Reychardus, reflecting the influence of local dialects and scribal practices of the time.

During the 13th century, a notable figure named Reichard von Halberstadt was mentioned in the annals of the city of Halberstadt, located in the present-day state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. He was a prominent landowner and benefactor of the local monastery, contributing to the development of the region's cultural and religious institutions.

In the 14th century, the name Reichard appeared in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae," a collection of documents related to the royal houses of Saxony. One entry mentions a certain Reichard von Meissen, who served as a knight in the court of the Margrave of Meissen, a powerful feudal lord in the region.

As the name gained prominence, it began to spread across various German-speaking regions, including Austria and Switzerland. In the late 15th century, a scholar and humanist named Reichard Sterzinger, born in Zug, Switzerland, gained recognition for his contributions to the study of classical literature and philosophy.

Another notable figure was Reichard von Greiffenklau, born in Cologne in 1467, who served as the Archbishop and Prince-Elector of Trier from 1511 until his death in 1531. He played a significant role in the political and religious affairs of the Holy Roman Empire during the tumultuous period of the Reformation.

Over the centuries, the surname Reichard has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from academics and clergy to artists and military personnel. While the name has evolved through various spellings and regional variations, its origins remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of medieval Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reichard

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Reichard.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Reichard was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Reichard has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Reichard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Reichard, please contact us.

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