Reinsch last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Reinsch

A surname derived from a geographic place name in Germany.

Reinsch, 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 Reinsch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reinsch in America

Reinsch is the 31453rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reinsch surname appeared 736 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 Reinsch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reinsch 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 31453 30645 2.60%
Count 736 718 2.48%
Proportion per 100k 0.25 0.27 -7.69%

The history of the last name Reinsch

The surname Reinsch is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "Rein," which means "pure" or "clean," and the suffix "-sch," indicating a place of origin or occupation. The name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a clear stream or river, or perhaps to someone who worked as a water purifier or in a similar profession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 14th century. The name is mentioned in connection with a certain "Johannes Reinsch," who was a landowner in the region.

During the 16th century, the name appears in various records across different parts of Germany, including the cities of Leipzig and Nuremberg. Notable individuals bearing the Reinsch surname during this period include Johann Georg Reinsch (1594-1667), a German Lutheran theologian and author from Saxony.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Johann Philipp Reinsch (1610-1673), a German physician and chemist who is credited with the discovery of the element ammonium. His work on the preparation and properties of ammonium salts was groundbreaking and contributed significantly to the field of chemistry.

Another notable figure was Johann Christian Reinsch (1729-1783), a German jurist and professor of law at the University of Leipzig. He authored several influential works on legal theory and practice, which were widely studied and referenced throughout Europe.

As the name spread across Germany and into neighboring regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Reinsche, Reinsche, and Reinsch. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name outside of Germany can be found in the Netherlands, where a certain Pieter Reinsch (1670-1744) was a prominent merchant and trader in Amsterdam. His successful business ventures and contributions to the city's economic growth earned him a respected reputation among his contemporaries.

Throughout the centuries, the Reinsch surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. While not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has left its mark on the cultural and historical fabric of both Germany and the regions where its bearers have settled.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reinsch

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

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 Reinsch was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.97% 699
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.36% 10
Hispanic Origin 2.85% 21

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 Reinsch has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.97% 96.38% -1.47%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.36% 0.84% 47.27%
Hispanic 2.85% 1.53% 60.27%

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

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

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