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

Reiter, 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 Reiter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reiter in America

Reiter is the 3319th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reiter surname appeared 10,802 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Reiter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reiter 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 Reiter

The surname Reiter originates from Germany and likely dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "reiter," meaning "rider" or "horseman." This occupation-based surname was likely given to someone whose profession involved riding horses, such as a messenger, courier, or soldier.

One of the earliest references to this surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical records from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which mentions a "Conrad Reitere" in 1226. Additionally, the surname is recorded in the Bürgeraufnahmen der Stadt Hannover, a registry of citizens in the city of Hanover, which lists a "Henning Reyter" in 1389.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including "Reyther," "Reyder," and "Reidter." One notable individual from this period was Johann Reiter (1430-1495), a German composer and music theorist who served as a choirmaster at the court of the Elector Palatine.

During the 16th century, the Reiter surname gained prominence with individuals like Johann Reiter (1508-1572), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another notable figure was Hans Reiter (1520-1585), a German painter known for his religious and historical works.

In the 17th century, the Reiter surname was associated with several military figures, including Georg Reiter (1610-1680), a German mercenary who fought in the Thirty Years' War. Another notable individual was Johann Reiter (1638-1716), a German jurist and diplomat who served as the Imperial Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The 18th century saw the rise of the Reiter family in the arts and sciences. Johann Nepomuk Reiter (1734-1804) was a German composer and organist, while Johann Reiter (1755-1828) was a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Moving into the 19th century, the Reiter surname continued to appear in various fields. Friedrich Reiter (1805-1883) was a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Frankfurt Parliament. Additionally, Karl Reiter (1822-1897) was a German composer and conductor known for his works in sacred and secular music.

Overall, the surname Reiter has a rich history spanning several centuries and encompassing individuals from various professions, including composers, theologians, artists, military figures, and scientists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reiter

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

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

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

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