Reich
A German surname meaning “rich” or “mighty,” originally from an old word for power, rank, or wealth.
The #2,796 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 23,950 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Reich comes from the German word reich, “rich,” which in older Germanic usage could also mean “powerful,” “mighty,” or “of high rank.” The name is ultimately tied to Old High German rihhi and Middle High German riche, words related to authority and wealth rather than only money. It began as a descriptive surname or byname, likely first applied to someone seen as prosperous or influential.
History
The surname is well established in German-speaking areas and also appears in related forms across other Germanic-language surname traditions. Historical surname dictionaries often group it with other names built on the same Germanic root as Richard and related forms like Reichardt and Reichmann. In English-speaking countries, it is usually found among immigrant families from German and Jewish backgrounds.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same old Germanic root behind Reich also lies behind names like Richard and Friedrich, where it carries the sense of power or rulership rather than simple wealth.
From the historical record
“in Diet. REICH (Ger.) Rich; Mighty [M.H.Ger. riche, O.H.Ger. rihhi] Eng. Rieh. REINHARDT (Ger.) Mightily Firm or Brave [see Renard in Diet:] RENAUD 1 RPNfli II T ( ^^^ these Fr.-Teut. names in the”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)