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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The roots of the distinguished German surname Rager 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.
The surname Rager 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rager research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1790 and 1792 are included under the topic Early Rager History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Rieger, Reiger, Riegger, Reigger, Riegar, Reigar, Riger, Rigger, Ryger, Rygger, Riegler and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Rager Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Rager is the 7,132nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Barbara Riger, who came to Pennsylvania in 1737; Jacob Riger settled in Pennsylvania in 1751; Johannes Rieger settled in Pennsylvania in 1743; Chistopher Riegler settled in Ohio in 1869.