Reitz History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Early Origins of the Reitz family

The surname Reitz was first found in Austria, where the name Reitz became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history, bearers of the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family. The origin of the name is very uncertain. The most likely possibility is that it is taken from a place in Pommerania and that then the family migrated south to Austria. It could also be taken from a shortened form of the personal names Ragizo, Raginhart or Reginbrandt. A third possibility is that Reitz is a variation of another surname, such as Reis. The family is so wide-spread that likely more than one of these possibilities is true and that several different families of the same name arose in different areas of Germany.

Early History of the Reitz family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reitz research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Reitz History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reitz Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reitz, Reits, Reitzel, Reizo and others.

Early Notables of the Reitz family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Reitz were

the Reitz family of Austria

Reitz Ranking

In the United States, the name Reitz is the 4,844^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Reitz migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Reitz Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mathaeus Gottfried Reitz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
Friedrich Reitz, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748
Johann Michael Reitz, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1771 2
Johannes Reitz, who settled in New York in 1782
Johannes Reitz, who landed in New York, NY in 1782 2

Reitz Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis A Reitz, who arrived in New York in 1833 2
George Reitz, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1838 2
Hartman Reitz, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1840 2
Elizabeth Barbara Reitz, who landed in New York, NY in 1845 2
Michel Reitz, who landed in Brazil in 1845 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Reitz Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Christian Reitz, who arrived in Arkansas in 1902 2

Reitz migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Reitz Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Vilius Reitz, who landed in Canada in 1777-1783

Contemporary Notables of the name Reitz (post 1700) +

Heinie Reitz (1867-1914), American baseball player
Dana Reitz (b. 1948), American dancer and choreographer
Walter Raleigh Reitz (1885-1957), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from West Virginia, 1920; Member of West Virginia State Senate 2nd District, 1927-30 3
T. Russell Reitz, American politician, Mayor of Manhattan, Kansas, 1974-75, 1977-78, 1981-82 3
Roger Reitz, American politician, Mayor of Manhattan, Kansas, 1999-2000; Member of Kansas State House of Representatives, 2003 3
Paul G. Reitz, American Republican politician, Mayor of Du Bois, Pennsylvania, 1960 3
Karl P. Reitz, American Republican politician, Mayor of Laconia, New Hampshire, 1986-88 3
Joyce Reitz, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 2004 3
John Reitz, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 7th District, 1881, 1887-88 3
Charles Reitz, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Missouri 5th District, 2000 3
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html