Sennrich

Sennrich is a surname of German-language origin. It is most commonly found in Switzerland and southern Germany, with smaller populations in Austria and among diaspora communities in North America. The name is primarily attested in civil and church records dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Origin and meaning: The first element Senn likely derives from the occupation or role of a Senn—the manager of an alpine dairy or the herdsman who wintered cattle in the high pastures in Alpine regions. The second element, -rich or -reich, is a common component in German surnames and may function as a suffix forming a family name rather than carrying a separate lexical meaning. Some families may also have derived the surname from toponymic roots in areas where 'Senn' or 'Sennr-' appears in place names.

Geographic distribution: In Switzerland, the surname appears in cantonal records in rural areas with Alpine associations. In Germany, it is found primarily in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with trace records in neighboring states. Emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries spread the name to the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others.

Notable individuals: There are no widely cited figures with the surname Sennrich in major English-language reference works. The name may appear among local politicians, academics, or professionals, but none have established broad notability.

See also: Senn (surname) and related Germanic toponyms and surnames.