reif

Reif is a surname of German origin. It likely derives from the German adjective reif, meaning ripe or mature, and may have originated as a nickname for a mature person or as an occupational or topographic name in agricultural communities. The name is found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and among descendants of emigrants in North America.

Reif also appears as a toponym in some German-speaking areas, used for small villages or geographic features. The exact instances of toponyms bearing the name vary by region and over time, and there is no single location universally identified with the name.

In contemporary contexts, Reif occurs as a surname for individuals across various fields, including science, academia, and culture. Notable people with the surname are documented in biographical sources, though no single figure dominates the name. Variant spellings include Rief, which appears in some families.