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

Riehle, 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 Riehle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riehle in America

Riehle is the 15719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riehle surname appeared 1,855 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 Riehle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riehle 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 Riehle

The surname Riehle has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely emerging during the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "riel," which referred to a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with someone who lived near or worked with a small body of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the Riehle surname can be traced back to the 13th century, appearing in various historical documents and records from regions now part of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. One notable example is the mention of a Johannes Riehle in a land registry from the town of Tübingen, dated 1287.

In the 14th century, variations of the Riehle surname began to surface in different areas, such as Riele, Riehl, and Riehl. These slight spelling variations were common due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of record-keeping at the time. For instance, a Heinricus Riele was documented in a church register from the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1342.

As the centuries progressed, the Riehle surname became more widespread, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Johann Riehle (1558-1628), a German theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen and wrote extensively on religious topics.

Another individual of note was Friedrich Riehle (1790-1864), a German painter and lithographer known for his landscapes and architectural depictions. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.

In the 19th century, a prominent member of the Riehle family was Hermann Riehle (1817-1892), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen and made significant contributions to the field of commercial law.

While the Riehle surname is most commonly associated with its German origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its historical roots can be traced back to the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it emerged as a name linked to geographical features and the natural landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riehle

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

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

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

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