Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Raya Galician, SpanishPossibly a habitational name from Raya in Galicia or in Albacete and Murcia provinces. Possibly a topographic name from Spanish raya meaning "line", denoting the boundary between two countries or provinces.
Rayamajhi NepaliProbably a portmanteau of the Nepali words meaning 'Royal Fishmongers'. A member of the Rajput-Chhetri subcaste of Nepali family names.
Rayford AmericanFrom a Germanic personal name with the elements
ric- meaning "powerful" and
-frid meaning "peace".
Rayl GermanVariant of Rehl, which it's meaning is probably a habitational name from Rehl in Rhineland or Rehlen in East Prussia.
Raymond English, FrenchFrom the Norman personal name
Raimund, composed of the Germanic elements
ragin "advice, counsel" and
mund "protection".
Razo GalicianA habitational name from Razo in A Coruña province, Galicia.
Reach Scottish, EnglishScottish: Nickname For Someone With Streaks Of Gray Or White Hair From Gaelic Riabhach ‘Brindled Grayish’. English And Scottish: Habitational Name From Either Of Two Places Called Reach In Bedfordshire And Cambridgeshire Recorded As Reche In Medieval Documents From Old English Rǣc ‘Raised Strip Of Land Or Other Linear Feature’ (In The Case Of The Cambridgeshire Name Specifically Referring To Devil's Dyke A Post-Roman Earthwork)... [
more]
Reading EnglishHabitational name from the county seat of Berkshire, which gets its name from Old English
Readingas "people of Read(a)", a byname meaning "red".
Réal FrenchThis can derive from several different sources: southern French
réal "royal", a word which was applied to someone either as a nickname (presumably given to people perceived as being regal) or as an occupational name (given to a person in the service of the king); or the French place name
Réal, in which case this is a habitational name taken from any of various places which were named for having been part of a royal domain (also compare
Reau,
Reaux).
Real Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, GalicianEither a habitational name from any of numerous places called Real; those in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal being named from
real "royal" or as variant of
Rial while those in southern Spain and Catalonia are named in part from real meaning "encampment rural property" (Arabic
raḥāl "farmhouse cabin")... [
more]
Reale ItalianFrom reale "royal", either an occupational name for someone in the service of a king or a nickname for someone who behaved in a regal manner.
Reali ItalianVariant of the surname
Reale, which stems from
reale "royal", either a name for someone in the service of a royal or a nickname for someone who behaved in a regal, aristocratic manner.
Reams PolishThe last name Reams comes from Normandy, France.
Reb AlsatianOf debated origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from the given name
Raban and a variant of the surname
Reber.
Rebolledo SpanishHabitational name from any of various places called Rebolledo for example Rebolledo de la Torre in Burgos from rebollo denoting a species of oak.
Rebuffo ItalianPossibly from the medieval given names Rebuffo or Robufus. Alternately, may derive from a nickname based on
rabuffo "rebuke, scold".
Rechner GermanOccupational name from Middle High German
rechenære "reckoner keeper of accounts".
Recht GermanProbably a habitational name from a place so named in the Rhineland.
Recht German, JewishNickname for an upright person, from Middle High German
reht, German
recht "straight". As a Jewish name it is mainly of ornamental origin.
Reck GermanNickname from Middle High German recke ‘outlaw’ or ‘fighter’. North German and Westphalian: from Middle Low German recke ‘marsh’, ‘waterlogged ground’, hence a topographic name, or a habitational name from a place named with this term.
Recknagel Germanfrom Middle High German
recken "to raise or lift" (here in the imperative) and
nagel "nail" hence a metonymic occupational name for a blacksmith or perhaps an obscene nickname (with a transferred sense for nagel i.e. ‘penis’).
Rector EnglishStatus name for the director of an institution, in particular the head of a religious house or a college. Also an anglicized form of
Richter.
Redden EnglishLocation name meaning "clearing or cleared woodland." Communities called Redden include one in Roxburghshire, Scotland and another in Somerset, England. A notable bearer is actor Billy Redden who played the dueling banjoist Lonnie in the 1972 film 'Deliverance.'
Reddick Scottish, Northern IrishHabitational name from Rerrick or Rerwick in Kirkcudbrightshire, named with an unknown first element and
wīc "outlying settlement". It is also possible that the first element was originally Old Norse
rauðr "red".
Reddick EnglishHabitational name from Redwick in Gloucestershire, named in Old English with
hrēod "reeds" and
wīc "outlying settlement".
Redding GermanPatronymic from any of the Germanic personal names with the first element
rad "counsel, advice".
Reddington EnglishFrom a place name derived from an uncertain first element (perhaps the Old English given name
Rēada) combined with the suffix
ing meaning "belonging to" and
tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town".
Reddish EnglishThis surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Reddish,' a village near Stockport, Cheshire.
Redenbach GermanToponymic name possibly derived from Middle High German
reden "to speak, to talk" and
bach "stream". It could also be a variant of
Wittenbach.
Redenbacher English (American)The name "Redenbacher" appears to be a combination of two parts: "Reden" and "Bacher". Here's what I found about the meanings of these parts:... [
more]
Rédey HungarianIndicated a person from Kisréde or Nagyréde, a village in Hungary.
Redfield ScottishAnglicized form of the Scottish habitational name
Reidfuyrd, meaning "reedy ford".
Redgrave EnglishFrom the name of a village and civil parish in Suffolk, England, derived from Old English
hrēod meaning "reed" or
rēad "red", and
græf meaning "pit, ditch" or
grāf "grove"... [
more]
Redman English, IrishVariant of
Raymond. Also a nickname for a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion, from Middle English
rudde "red" and
man "man".
Redmayne English, IrishDerived from
Redmain, a small hamlet in Cumbria, England. It is named with Old English
rēad meaning "red" and Welsh
main meaning "rock, stone". The name could also be derived from the given name
Réamonn, which is an Irish form of
Raymond... [
more]
Redmer FrisianNorth German: from the Frisian personal name, composed of the Germanic elements rad ‘advice’, ‘counsel’ + mari, meri ‘fame’.
Redner GermanGerman: possibly a variant of
Redmer, or an occupational name for a spokesman, Middle High German rednære.
Redpath Scottish, EnglishHabitational name from a place in Berwickshire, probably so called from Old English
read ‘red’ +
pæð ‘path’. This name is also common in northeastern England.
Redwood EnglishName possibly derived from the colour of the bark of trees or the name of the town Reedworth between Durham and Devon
Redžepagić BosnianDerived from
Redžeb, meaning "Rajab", the seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Ree EstonianRee is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rehi" meaning "barn".
Reedi EstonianReedi is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from "reeder", meaning "ship owner".
Reedus English, ScottishAn English and Scottish name of uncertain origin. Possibly a reduced form of English Redhouse, a habitational name from any of the numerous places named Redhouse, including over ninety farms.
Reek EstonianReek is an Estonian surname, possibly a corruption of "kreek", meaning "damson".
Reekie ScottishPerhaps "person from Reikie", Aberdeenshire, or from a different form of the Scottish male personal name
Rikie, literally "little
Richard".
Reemets EstonianReemets is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "rehi" meaning "barn" and "mets" meaning "forest".
Reepalu EstonianReepalu is an Estonian surname, possibly derived from "ere" ("bright" or "vivd") and "palu" ("sandy heath" and "heathy woodland".)
Reese Low German, Dutch, GermanVariant of
Riese or
Reus, from
risi meaning "giant". Alternatively, could be a patronymic form of the Germanic given name
Razo, derived from
rēdaz "counsel, advise", or a habitational name from places called Rees or Reese in Rhineland and Lower Saxony.
Reeson EnglishEnglish (Lincolnshire):: patronymic meaning ‘son of the reeve’ from Middle English reve + son.
Refaeli HebrewVariant of
Rafaeli. The Israeli model and actress Bar Refaeli (1985-) is a famous bearer of this name.
Regel Germanfrom Middle High German
regel "(monastic) rule" (from Latin
regula), perhaps a metonymic occupational name for someone who worked in a monastery.
Régis FrenchOccupational name for a local dignitary, from a derivative of Old French
régir "to rule or manage".
Rego PortuguesePrimarily Iberian, particularly
Portuguese in origin. A topographic name for someone who lived by a channel.
Regueiro Galician, PortugueseThe name originated in Ourense (Galicia) in the 14th Century. It´s literal meaning in Portuguese is river. It is a surname referring to a person who lived near a river or water source.
Rehder GermanOccupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wheelmaker or wheelwright.
Rehi EstonianRehi is an Estonian surname meaning "threshing barn".
Rei EstonianRei is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "reis", meaning "travel" and "journey" and "reid" meaning "road".
Reial EstonianReial is an Estonian surname derived from "treial" meaning "lathe turner".
Reichel GermanDerived from the Germanic root
ric meaning "power".
Reichenberg German, JewishHabitational name from various places named
Reichenberg in several different areas of Germany. As an ornamental name, it is composed of German
reich(en) meaning "rich" and
berg meaning "mountain, hill".
Reichstein GermanHabitational name from places named Reichstein (in Saxony) or Reichenstein (in Rhineland, Schleswig-Holstein, and Württemberg).
Reidhead EnglishThe origins of the Reidhead surname are uncertain. In some instances, it was no doubt derived from the Old English word "read," meaning "red," and was a nickname that came to be a surname. Either way, we may conclude that it meant "red-haired" or "ruddy complexioned."
Reifinger German1 German: perhaps a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Reiting in Bavaria and Austria, or from a Germanic personal name, a variant of Rediger .... [
more]
Reille French, OccitanTopographic name derived from Old Occitan
relha meaning "plowshare", or a habitational name from any of several places named
Reille or
La Reille in southern France. A notable bearer was Honoré Charles Reille (1775-1860), a Marshal of France during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Reimann GermanFrom a pet form of a Germanic personal name formed with a first element from ragin 'advice', 'counsel' or ric 'power(ful)', 'rich'.
Reimer GermanFrom a Germanic personal name, a reduced form of Reinmar, composed of the elements
ragin "counsel" +
mari,
meri "fame".
Reimets EstonianReimets is an Estonian surname possibly derived from "raie" ("cutting" and "felling trees") and "mets", meaning forest. Possibly a corruption of "reid" ("road" and "roadstead") and ""mets" ("forest").
Reinaus EstonianReinaus is an Estonian surname derived from the masculine given name "Rein" and "aus" meaning "honest".
Reinbold GermanFrom a Germanic personal name composed of the elements
ragin "counsel" +
bald "bold", "brave."
Reinert GermanNorth German: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ragin ‘counsel’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’, for example Reinhard ( see Reinhardt ).
Reinhardt GermanComes from a personal name Raginhard, composed of the elements ragin, meaning counsel, with hard, hardy, brave, strong.
Reinik EstonianReinik is an Estonian surname derived from the masculine given name "Rein".
Reinking GermanReinking is a German-derived surname meaning "one who is neat and tidy"
Reinlund Norwegian (Rare)The last name didn't show up until the early 1900s. Only a few people in Norway and Finnland have this last name
Reinmaa EstonianReinmaa is an Estonian surname meaning "Rein's land". From the masculine give name "Rein" and "maa" ("land").
Reino EstonianReino is an Estonian surname, a variant of the masculine given name "Rein".
Reinsalu EstonianReinsalu is an Estonian surname derived from "Rein" (a masculine given name) and "salu", meaning grove; "Rein's grove".
Reintalu EstonianReintalu is an Estonian surname derived from "Rein" (a masculine given name) and "talu", meaning "farm"; "Rein's farm".
Reintamm EstonianReintamm is an Estonian surname meaning "Rein's (masculine given name) oak".
Reise German, JewishGerman (Westphalia) topographic name, from Middle Low German
ris,
res ‘swamp’. ... [
more]
Reisenauer GermanProbably denoted a person from a minor place called
Reisenau, or a topographic name for someone living by an overgrown water meadow, derived from Middle High German
ris meaning "undergrowth" and
owe meaning "water meadow".
Reiser German, Upper GermanHabitational name for someone from Reis or Reissen in Bavaria (see
Reis). An occupational name from Middle High German
reisære ‘warrior’, ‘traveler’... [
more]
Reisner JewishJewish (Ashkenazic) nickname for a traveler, from an agent derivative of German
reisen ‘to travel’ (see
Reise). Also a variant of
Reis.
Reisner GermanA habitational name for someone from a place called Reisen (for example in Bavaria), Reissen in Thuringia, or Reussen on the Saale river. A variant of
Reiser Also from an agent derivative of Middle High German, Middle Low German
rise ‘veil’; perhaps an occupational name for someone who made veils.
Reitalu EstonianReitalu is an Estonian surname derived from "reid" meaning "road" and "talu" meaning "farm/farmstead".
Reiväli EstonianReiväli is an Estonian surname meaning "road/roadstead field".
Reixach CatalanHabitational name for someone from any of the various places called
Reixac in Catalonia, Spain, for example the municipality of Montcada i Reixac in the province of Barcelona.
Rekdal NorwegianThe name of people from the small town Rekdal in West-Norway. Former footballer Kjetil Rekdal (1968- ) is the most known person from there.
Reller German (Swiss)Occupational name for a miller, derived from the Swiss German dialect term
relle meaning "grist mill".
Relph EnglishFrom the Old French male personal name
Riulf, of Germanic origin and meaning literally "power-wolf" (cf.
Riculf).
Remini ItalianFamous bearer: Actress and Scientology critic Leah Remini.
Remmelgas EstonianRemmelgas is an Estonian surname; a colloquial name meaning "willow".
Rempe German (Americanized, Modern)The roots of the German surname Rempe lie in the former duchy of Silesia, now part of Poland. The name means, simply, "son of Rempel," and was a popular first name in Silesia during the Middle Ages.
Remulta FilipinoIt can be derived from Spanish word which means "remultar" which means "to rumble" or "to grumble". It can also come from another Spanish root word "mult-" which can be associated with the idea "many" "multiply" "multus".
Renberg SwedishCombination of Swedish
ren "reindeer" and
berg "mountain". The first element might also be derived from a place name.
Rench English1. English: nickname from Middle English wrench 'trick, wile, deceit' (Old English wrenc), perhaps used for a deceitful person. ... [
more]
Rendelmann GermanA habitational name for someone from Rendel near Frankfurt (Hesse).
Renehan IrishDerived from Irish Gaelic, meaning "sharp- or star-pointed."
Renfrew ScottishAnglicized form of the Gaelic
Rinn Friù, meaning "cradle of the Royal Stewards." It is derived from either the historical county of Renfrewshire in the west central lowlands of Scotland, or the town of Renfrew within both the historical and present-day boundaries of the county.
Rengel German (Swiss)From a pet form of a Germanic personal name formed with
rang "curved", "bending"; "slender".
Rengel SpanishHabitational name from a place called Rengel in Málaga province.
Rengel Medieval CroatianUsed by several houses of Croatia few centuries ago, now, those of this name are but a shadows of once proud and prestigious house