This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Riegel family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Riegel Family History

Riegel Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German rigel ‘bar crossbeam mountain incline’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of crossbars, locks, etc. or a topographic name for someone who lived near and was in charge of the village gate which separated the settlement from the adjacent fields.

Compare Rigel.

Habitational name from any of numerous places in Baden, Brandenburg, and Silesia named Riegel (see 2 below).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Riegel family from?

You can see how Riegel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riegel family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Riegel families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 33 Riegel families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 94% of all the recorded Riegel's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Riegel families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riegel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Riegel ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Riegel. 16% of Riegel men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Riegel women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Riegel were Clerk and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Riegel | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    16%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Clerk
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    14%
  • Teacher
    9%
  • Clerk
    8%
  • Housekeeper
    7%

What Riegel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 14,000 census records available for the last name Riegel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riegel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Riegel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Riegel. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Riegel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Riegel. For the veterans among your Riegel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riegel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riegel family history

Discover More

What is the average Riegel lifespan?

Between 1952 and 2004, in the United States, Riegel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1961, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Riegel in 1952 was 63, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riegel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riegel ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Riegel family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial