Rein
A short surname that most likely comes from a Germanic word for “pure” or “clean,” though it can also reflect related names like Rhein/Rhine in some families.
The #7,882 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 73,528 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Rein is usually explained from Germanic rein, meaning “clean,” “pure,” or “unmixed.” In older surname material it is also linked to the same root seen in names such as Reinhard and Reinhold, where the first element carries the sense of purity or honesty. In some cases, however, Rein may be a shortened form or variant of other names, including forms connected with the Rhine/Rhein area or with longer compound given names.
History
The name is found in several Germanic naming traditions and often appears as a shortened or simplified surname form. Some 19th-century writers treated it as a standalone surname from the “pure” element in Germanic personal names, while others noted possible links to regional or locational forms. Because Rein is brief and adaptable, different families may have independent origins.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same old Germanic root behind Rein also shows up in names like Reinhard and Reinhold, where it adds the idea of purity or integrity.
From the historical record
“or perh. Renna is the genit. of a name like Renni or Rein{n)i ; and + O.N. dal-r, a dale, valley] RENDER l (A.-Fr.-Lat.) Renderer; Fat- RENDRERJ Melter [f. Fr. rendre, Lat. red-”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)