Reitzel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Reitzel was first found in Austria, where the name Reitzel 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 Reitzel 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.