Show ContentsReinheimer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bavaria, Germany is the original homeland of the Reinheimer family. Reinheimer is a patronymic name, a type of surname that derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer. Reinheimer was derived from the Old Germanic personal name Raginhari, which is composed of the Old German elements ragin, which means counsel, and hard, which means hardy.

Early Origins of the Reinheimer family

The surname Reinheimer was first found in Bavaria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. Chronicles first mention Reinerus Reynberti of Rostolk around 1280. The Latin "Renerus" also became "Reinher" from which "Reinhard" was formed. In their later history the Reiners became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Reinheimer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Reinheimer research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1606, 1647 and 1728 are included under the topic Early Reinheimer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Reinheimer Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Reinheimer include Reiner, Reine, Reinere, Rhiner, Reiners, Rainer, Rainers, Rainert, Rainere, Renerus (Latin) and many more.

Early Notables of the Reinheimer family

Prominent among members of the name Reinheimer in this period include Vincentio (Vincenzio, Vincenzo) Reinieri (Renieri, Reiner) (1606-1647), an Italian mathematician and astronomer, close friend and disciple of...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Reinheimer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Reinheimer migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Reinheimer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Reinheimer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
Reinheimer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Heinrich Reinheimer, who arrived in North America in 1836 1
  • Johann Reinheimer, who landed in North America in 1838 1
  • John W Reinheimer, who arrived in Mississippi in 1852 1
  • Leonhard Reinheimer, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1856 1
  • Frederick Reinheimer, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Reinheimer (post 1700) +

  • Felipe Reinheimer, American cinematographer, known for his wok on The Queen (2006), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) and Funny Games (2007)
  • Peter Reinheimer, American businessman and co-founder of Nextel Communications, Inc, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint Corporation
  • Jack Reinheimer, American baseball player, MVP of the 2011 NECBL All-Star Game
  • Bishop Bartel H. Reinheimer, American clergyman, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester (1938-1949)
  • Henny Reinheimer (b. 1959), German actress, known for Kopfgeld (1959), Das runde Ding vom Odenwald (1987) and Aus Gründen der Sicherheit (1961)


  1. 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)


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