Reitz
A German surname most likely from a short form of a personal name such as Richard, or from a related Germanic name element meaning “powerful” or “rich.”
The #4,663 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 40,603 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Reitz is generally treated as a German surname built from an old short form of a personal name. The historical sources connect it with names such as Reich/Richard, and with the Germanic element ric, meaning “power,” “rule,” or by extension “rich.” In that sense, the surname likely began as a patronymic or nickname from a given name rather than from a place or occupation.
History
The name is well attested in German surname studies and appears alongside forms such as Reiss, Reitzel, and Reiter in older onomastic works. It is especially associated with German-language naming patterns in central and western Europe, and later carried to North America through German-speaking migration. The spelling Reitz has remained fairly stable, though related forms vary considerably.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname indexes sometimes group Reitz with names built on Richard or on the Germanic ric- element, showing how many German surnames grew from shortened pet forms of first names.
From the historical record
“Reith, -reither s. Reut. Reitz s. Rag. Rel£ate, Relceiofe s. Ric. (V.) Reling s. Rag.”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen