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

Riese, 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 Riese surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riese in America

Riese is the 19966th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riese surname appeared 1,343 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 Riese.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riese 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 Riese

The surname Riese originated in Germany, likely in the northern regions, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "riese," meaning "giant" or "tall person." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon someone of exceptional height or stature.

The earliest recorded instances of the Riese surname can be traced back to the late 13th century, where it appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records from the region. One notable example is the reference to a Johannes Riese in a document from the city of Hamburg, dated 1287.

During the medieval period, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or locations. The Riese name may have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to an individual's impressive height or build. Alternatively, it could have been a locational surname, indicating a person's place of origin or residence near a prominent landmark or geographic feature associated with the word "riese."

In the 16th century, the Riese surname appeared in the records of the Hanseatic League, a powerful medieval trading alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. This suggests that some individuals bearing the Riese name were involved in the prosperous trade activities of the time.

One notable historical figure with the Riese surname was Johann Riese (1534-1612), a German mathematician and astronomer. He is best known for his work on the calculation of eclipses and the publication of astronomical tables.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Gottfried Riese (1825-1900), a German artist and painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life in Germany.

In the realm of literature, the German author and poet Otto Riese (1867-1944) made significant contributions with his works exploring themes of nature, love, and the human condition.

The name Riese also appears in military history, with mentions of a Prussian general named Friedrich Riese (1809-1876), who played a role in the Prussian Wars of Unification in the 19th century.

In more recent times, the German actor and director Wolfgang Riese (1922-2004) gained recognition for his work in theater and film, particularly in the post-World War II era.

While the Riese surname is predominantly found in Germany and other German-speaking regions, it has also spread to various parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riese

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

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

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

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