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Rieger History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Rieger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Rieger

What does the name Rieger mean?

The roots of the distinguished German surname Rieger lie in the southern regions of Swabia, Bavaria, and Austria. The name is derived from the Middle High German words "reigel" or "reiger," both meaning "heron." The name was likely first bestowed on someone thought to have the characteristics of a heron as a nickname, eventually becoming a hereditary surname.

Early Origins of the Rieger family

The surname Rieger was first found in Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name Rieger became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Rieger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rieger research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1790 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Rieger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rieger Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rieger, Reiger, Riegger, Reigger, Riegar, Reigar, Riger, Rigger, Ryger, Rygger, Riegler and many more.

Early Notables of the Rieger family

Prominent among members of the name Rieger in this period include

the Barons Rieger

Rieger Ranking

In the United States, the name Rieger is the 7,726^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Rieger migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rieger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Jerick Rieger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1728 2
Jacob Friederick Rieger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734 2
Anthoni Rieger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 2
Lawrence Rieger, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 2
Joannes Bartholomew Rieger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rieger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Rosina Rieger, who landed in America in 1839 2
Henry Rieger, aged 25, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1845 2
Henry Rieger, who settled in New Orleans in 1845
Nicolass Rieger, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 2
Conrad Rieger, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rieger migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rieger Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Godfried Rieger, aged 47, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Rieger (post 1700) +

Colonel James Edward Rieger (1874-1951), American lawyer and Army officer awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre
Wendy Bell Rieger (1956-2022), American journalist and actress, best known for her work as an anchor person for WRC-TV
Henry "Hank" Rieger (1918-2014), American television executive, President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (1973-1975, 1977-1980)
Vincent A. Rieger, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
I. P. Rieger, American politician, Village President of River Forest, Illinois, 1960 4
Sophie Rieger (1933-2022), German politician, Member of the Landtag of Bavaria (1990-1998)
Peter Rieger (b. 1953), East German long jumper at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Adolf Rieger (1899-1956), German silver medalist wrestler at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Manfred Rieger (b. 1941), German Olympic weightlifter at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics
Max Rieger (b. 1946), German alpine skier at the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rieger family +

Bismarck

Karl Rieger (1917-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 5

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details