Rieux

Rieux is a French toponym and surname. As a place name, it designates several communes across France and is commonly found in compound forms such as Rieux-Minervois or Rieux-Volvestin. The origin of the name is medieval and varies by location, but it is generally associated with early landholding patterns and small settlements near waterways, with roots in Old French or Occitan linguistic traditions. Today, there are multiple small communes bearing the name Rieux, distributed across several departments.

Notable examples include Rieux-Minervois, a commune in the Aude department in southern France, and Rieux-Volvestin, located in the Haute-Garonne department in the southwest. Rieux also exists as a surname in France and other Francophone regions, reflecting the toponymic nature of many family names. In contemporary usage, the name appears primarily in local administrative contexts, historical records, and genealogical research.