Surname Riffee - Meaning and Origin

Riffee: What does the surname Riffee mean?

The last name Riffee does not have a clear, definitive meaning, as its origins are not well-documented or commonly known. It's believed to have been passed down through generations of families, possibly from European roots. Like many surnames, it is likely to be geographical, occupational, or personal in nature, signifying a place of origin, a job, or an ancestor's first name. However, without specific historical or genealogical data, it's challenging to assign a precise meaning to the name Riffee. It is essential to consider, too, that surnames could go through many variations due to differences in language, spelling inaccuracies, and time, significantly changing their original form and meaning. Researching specific family lines and genealogical records could provide more personalized insights into the meaning or origins of the surname Riffee.

Riffee: Where does the name Riffee come from?

The last name Riffee is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It can also be found in other countries around the world, such as France, Russia, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United States, the last name Riffee is seen mainly in the states of Maryland and Oklahoma. Maryland has the largest concentration of Riffee's, with about 155 people bearing that name, followed by Oklahoma with approximately 73 people.

Riffee is a name that is quite rare, but it has become more popular over the years due to the practice of immigration. Men and women of different ethnic backgrounds have adopted the name upon arriving in Canada or the United States. For example, a German-born couple might have chosen to take on the Americanized name Riffee upon settling in the US.

The Riffees' are a warm and close-knit family, uniting many branches of the same family tree. They are a people with a strong sense of unity and a passion for service to their community. Today, Riffee's are still active in their respective countries and states, giving back to the place where they call home. They are proud and responsible citizens of the United States and Canada, eager to contribute and make their mark wherever life takes them.

Variations of the surname Riffee

The surname Riffee has a few different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Rife, Ripfel, Riffel, Riffell, Riffle, Ryffel, Ryffeler, Ryfel, Ryfe, Ryffell, Ryffle, and Ryfler.

Riffee is derived from the Low Germanic ‘riiffle’, meaning to bind or tangle. It is thought that Riffee was originally a nickname used for people who were clumsy with their hands, or were skilled at making rope and nets.

The German-speaking areas of Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands are known to have produced people bearing the surname Riffee. It is also likely that some of these people moved to the United States, where the surnames Rife and Riffle are mainly found today.

Riffee is also a variation of the Germanic name Rifel, which was a toponymic surname referring to someone from the spruce forests of Germany. In this case, the surname is likely to have been given to people who lived in, or were originally from, places where spruce trees grew in abundance.

The surnames Ryfel, Ryffel and Ryffell are mostly found in the German-speaking region today, although variations of those names have made their way to other parts of the world as well.

In summary, the surname Riffee is known to have various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, and these are mainly found in German-speaking regions, such as Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as the United States.

Famous people with the name Riffee

• Rachelle Riffee: American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Nevada 2013.
• Bart Riffee: Professional actor, director, and writer. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2009 for his film, The Hurt Locker.
• John Riffee: Professional baseball player who pitched for the Kansas City Royals between 1998 and 2004.
• James Riffee: Country music singer and songwriter, known for singles such as “Livin’ Life Now” and “You Gotta Play It Right.”
• Joseph Riffee: American basketball player who played small forward for the Houston Rockets between 2011 and 2014.
• Denise Riffee: American television producer and writer, best known for her work on programs such as Friends and That’s So Raven.
• Matthew Riffee: Professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper for the Portland Timbers between 2010 and 2013.
• Simone Riffee: Professional figure skater and member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. She won the U.S. Figure Skating Championship three times.
• Kelly Riffee: American photographer and film producer, known for her documentary My Last Days: Life With a Terminal Illness.
• Michael Riffee: Professional triathlete and marathon runner, who was the gold medalist in the 2000 Olympic Marathon.

Other surnames

RiffeRiffelRiffelerRiffelmacherRiffertRiffey