REUTER
Reuter is a surname of German origin. It is recorded throughout Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and to a lesser extent in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The name derives from Middle-High German riuter, which itself comes from Old High German rītan meaning “to ride”. Consequently Reuter was originally an occupational name for a horseman, rider, trainer or breeder of horses. Another, mutually compatible explanation relates the surname to Middle-High German riute, rüete, meaning “cleared land”. In this case the name was applied to individuals living near or within such a cleared area, or to those whose families hailed from places in Germany called Reute or Reut, making it a topographic or habitational surname.
Variations of the spelling include Reutter, Roter, Röter, Ruter and several others that appear in German, French and Italian records. These forms reflect phonetic changes and regional differences in spelling practices over time.
In Germany the surname is relatively common; a 2018 survey by the University of Freiburg reported that 4.34 in every 10 000 people carry the name. Outside Germany it is most frequently found in Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In the United States it appears mainly in the states of North and South Dakota, where large numbers of German descendants settled. Within the United Kingdom the name is uncommon but has been recorded in London since 1881.
Overall, Reuter represents a well-established German surname with clear occupational or topographic roots, a variety of regional spellings and a documented presence in several European and North American countries.
Typical given names associated with the Reuter surname
Male
- Alan
- Ben
- Christopher
- Colin
- Jonathan
- Mark
- Michael
- Paris
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Tim
- Timothy
- Werner
Female
- Amanda
- Barbara
- Christine
- Evelyn
- Fiona
- Jean
- Julia
- Lauren
- Michelle
- Natalie
- Stephanie
- Susan
- Tracey
- Vivien
Similar and related surnames
- Rutter
- Ritter
- Reutter
- Reuther
- Reiter
- Retter
- Reutor
- Rueter
- Radder
- Rader
- Radier
- Raeder
- Rahder
- Raider
- Raiter
- Rater
- Ratier
- Ratra
- Ratter
- Ratterree
- Rattre
- Rattrie
- Raturi
- Rauter
- Rautureau
- Rayder
- Rayter
- Reader
- Redder
- Reddiar
- Reder
- Reeder
- Rehder
- Reider
- Reitter
- Rettori
- Reuthe
- Reutler
- Reyder
- Riadore
- Ridder
- Rider
- Ridor
- Rieder
- Rieter
- Riter
- Roader
- Rodder
- Rodear
- Roder
- Rodero
- Rodier
- Roeder
- Roetter
- Roider
- Roiter
- Rooter
- Rotar
- Rotari
- Rotaru
- Roter
- Rotor
- Rotter
- Rottier
- Rottura
- Rouder
- Roughter
- Router
- Routery
- Routier
- Routree
- Rowder
- Rowter
- Rowtree
- Rudder
- Ruder
- Rudor
- Rudra
- Ruether
- Ruider
- Ruiter
- Ruiters
- Ruter
- Ruther
- Ruttar
- Rutters
- Ruttor
- Ruyter
- Ryder
- Ryter
- Rytter
- Wratter
- Writer
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Reuter in...
Braille
⠗⠑⠥⠞⠑⠗
Morse
.-....--..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 147 people named Reuter in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Reuter.
Region of origin: Europe
Country of origin: Germany
Language of origin: German
Famous people named Reuter
- Ruben Reuter - Actor
- Timothy Reuter - German-British historian (1947 to 2002)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.