Explore the Family Name Reitz
The meaning of Reitz
1. German: habitational name from a place near Stolpe in Pomerania called Reitz. 2. German: from a late medieval pet form of the personal name Richard or Heinrich (see Henry). 3. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish female personal name Raytse, of ancient Germanic origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Reitz in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Reitz experienced a slight dip in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 4443rd in terms of prevalence but fell to the 4663rd position by 2010, a decline of 4.95%. However, the number of individuals bearing this surname increased slightly during the same period, from 7371 to 7604, a growth of 3.16%. The proportion per 100k people also reduced from 2.73 in 2000 to 2.58 in 2010, marking a decrease of 5.49%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,443 | #4,663 | -4.95% |
| Count | 7,371 | 7,604 | 3.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.73 | 2.58 | -5.49% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Reitz
In terms of ethnic identity, the Reitz surname has seen some changes over the decade from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While those identifying as White continued to dominate with 96.26% in 2000 reducing slightly to 95.02% in 2010, there were notable increases in other ethnic groups. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a significant rise from 0.42% to 0.70%, a change of 66.67%. Those claiming two or more races also increased from 0.83% to 1.33%, a 60.24% change. There were modest increases among those identifying as Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native as well.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.26% | 95.02% | -1.29% |
| Hispanic | 1.9% | 2.26% | 18.95% |
| Two or More Races | 0.83% | 1.33% | 60.24% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.42% | 0.7% | 66.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.39% | 0.43% | 10.26% |
| Black | 0.2% | 0.26% | 30% |
Reitz ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Reitz is French & German, which comprises 42.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (32.0%) and Eastern European (7.6%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Finnish.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 42.2% |
| British & Irish | 32.0% |
| Eastern European | 7.6% |
| Other | 18.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Reitz
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Reitz have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 75.10% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 75.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 75.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 74.60% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 74.60% |
What Reitz haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Reitz is R-CTS4528, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS4528 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and I-P109, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Skinner, Fields, Barth, Christensen, Jensen, Becker, Wagner, Wood, Weber, Rasmussen.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Reitz surname are: H1, H, U5a1. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Reitz have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Reitz" Surname 48.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Reitz" Surname 24.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Reitz" Surname 21.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Reitz" Surname 14.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Reitz?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Reitz are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition