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

Reitzel, 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 Reitzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reitzel in America

Reitzel is the 23899th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reitzel surname appeared 1,056 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 Reitzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reitzel 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 Reitzel

The surname Reitzel has its origins in Germany, where it first appeared during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "reit," meaning "reed," and may have originally referred to someone who lived near a reed-covered area or marshland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reitzel can be found in the 14th century in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in the Franconia region of modern-day Bavaria. The name appears in a document from 1382 as "Reytzeler," referring to a family residing in the town.

Throughout the centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, including Reitzler, Reitzeler, and Reitzell, reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. It is also possible that the name may have originated from a place name, as was common during that period.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Reitzel was Martin Reitzel, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who lived from 1520 to 1588. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation movement in Germany.

Another notable individual with this surname was Johann Reitzel, a German-American printer and publisher who lived from 1828 to 1898. He founded the Reitzel Brothers Printing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, which became one of the largest publishing houses in the United States during the late 19th century.

The name Reitzel also appears in historical records from other parts of Europe, suggesting that families with this surname may have migrated or established branches in different regions. For instance, in the 17th century, a family named Reitzel is recorded in the Netherlands, while in the 18th century, there are references to individuals with the surname in Switzerland.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Reitzel, a German philosopher and writer who lived from 1835 to 1897. He was a prominent figure in the socialist and anarchist movements of his time and wrote extensively on social and political issues.

Friedrich Reitzel's contemporary, Carl Reitzel, born in 1853, was a German painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. His works were widely exhibited and celebrated during his lifetime.

While the surname Reitzel is not among the most common surnames in modern times, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages in Germany and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reitzel

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

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

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

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