Surname Peterreit - Meaning and Origin
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Peterreit: What does the surname Peterreit mean?
The last name Peterreit is of German origin and originated from a region of Southwest Germany. It means 'a native of Peterreit' and likely originated as an indicator of the name of a small village or locality. The name Peterreit may have been given to a person who was from this village or area.
The term 'Peter' refers to the Christian apostle Peter, the first among the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, and 'reit' has roots in the Old High German language, meaning "clearance, an open space, clearing in the woods, or meadow". So Peterreit could be translated to mean "the clearing of Peter," or "Peter's clearing", likely referring to the open space of a village or small area they were from.
The Peterreit family is linked to the area around the Rhine Valley in Germany, and likely the name was adopted by immigrants from that area at some point centuries ago. Over time, the name has been adopted by people from other countries and regions, but the original meaning remains the same. Thus, the last name Peterreit has a long history.
Order DNA origin analysisPeterreit: Where does the name Peterreit come from?
The last name Peterreit is most commonly found in Germany, where it’s origins are from. According to records, it is believed to have first been used as a surname in the 13th century near Mettmann, Dusseldorf.
It quickly spread throughout the western region of Germany and now can be found in various German cities and towns, especially in the Ruhr Valley region, as well as Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Bohemia.
There have also been plenty of emigrants over the centuries that have carried the name to other locations around the world such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In the United States, the name is most common in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, most likely due to the influx of immigrants from Europe during the 19th century. There is also presence in the New England states, including New York and Massachusetts.
However, even today the surname is most common in Germany, where it is estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Therefore, if you’re looking for where you can find the most Peterreits, Germany is the place to go.
Variations of the surname Peterreit
The surname Peterreit is a German locational surname. It is believed to have originated in the small village of Peterreitz, located in the district of Ostfriesland in the Germany state of Lower Saxony. The name is derived from “Peter”, a given name common in German-speaking countries, and “reitz”, a term meaning “encampment” which was usually used to indicate a village. As such, the surname Peterreit roughly translates to “encampment of Peter”.
Variants of the surname Peterreit include Petri, Petrih, Petrez, Petrias, Petrifeldt, Preiß, Petribold, Petreau, Petri foul, Petrewskij, Petrenya, Petrissa, Petreaux, and Petrisse. Spellings of Peterreit can also be seen as 'Petrireit' and 'Paterreit', while surnames of the same origin include Peeters, Peereboom, Petz, Petza, Petrushka, Pier, Piereboom, and Petter.
Some immigrants to America, Canada, Australia, and other countries with German-speaking populations adopted other spellings for the surname, such as Pedretti and Petretti. The surname can also be found with and without the “-e-”, such as Peterit, Petrit, and Peterit. It can also be found spelled Petereit, Peterreet, and Pietereit.
Overall, the surname Peterreit has many variants and spellings stemming from its German origin. As a result, the surname can be seen in many different forms around the world.
Famous people with the name Peterreit
- Laura Peterreit, German equestrian
- William Peterreit, American race car driver
- Ralf Peterreit, German field hockey coach
- Jacob Peterreit, Prussian doctor
- Martin Peterreit, German footballer
- Britta Peterreit, former German Minister of Labour
- Julian Peterreit, Belgian footballer
- Albin Peterreit, Austrian swimmer
- Paula Peterreit, German International cyclist
- Georg Peterreit, German artist