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

Reifschneider, 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 Reifschneider surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reifschneider in America

Reifschneider is the 31211th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reifschneider surname appeared 743 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Reifschneider.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reifschneider 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 Reifschneider

The surname Reifschneider originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the areas that are now parts of modern-day Germany and Austria. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German words "reif," meaning "hoop" or "ring," and "schneider," meaning "cutter" or "tailor."

As a result, the surname Reifschneider likely referred to an occupation or trade associated with the making or working with hoops, rings, or possibly barrel staves. This craft would have been significant in regions where barrel-making and coopering were important industries during the medieval and early modern periods.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reifschneider can be found in the Nuremberg census records from the 15th century, where a certain Hans Reifschneider is mentioned as a resident of the city. This suggests that the name had already been established and in use by that time.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Reifschneider was Johann Reifschneider, a German theologian and Protestant reformer who lived from 1495 to 1559. He was a supporter of Martin Luther and played a role in the spread of the Reformation in the German states.

Another notable individual with the surname Reifschneider was Johann Adam Reifschneider, a German engraver and medallist who lived from 1755 to 1832. He was known for his skilled work in creating medals, seals, and other intricate engravings.

In the 19th century, the name Reifschneider can be found associated with several individuals in the field of education and academia. One such person was Friedrich Reifschneider, a German philologist and classical scholar who lived from 1815 to 1878 and taught at various universities in Germany.

Additionally, the Reifschneider family was also present in the United States, with some members having migrated from German-speaking regions in the 19th and early 20th centuries. One example is John W. Reifschneider, an American engineer and inventor who lived from 1859 to 1942 and was involved in the development of early electric motors and generators.

While the surname Reifschneider may have evolved and spread to different parts of the world over time, its origins can be traced back to the skilled craftsmen and tradespeople who worked with hoops, rings, and barrel staves in the German-speaking regions of Europe during the medieval and early modern periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reifschneider

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

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 Reifschneider 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 Reifschneider 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 Reifschneider was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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