Meaning & History
Reinhold is a German masculine given name, a form of Reynold. It ultimately derives from the Germanic name Raginald, composed of the elements regin ("advice, counsel, decision") and walt ("power, authority"). In German, the name was reinterpreted in the 16th century as deriving from rein ("pure") hold ("loyal"), giving the folk meaning "pure and loyal."
Etymology
The name Reinhold is a later development of the older Germanic Reginhold, combining regin- (often interpreted as "the gods" or as an emphatic prefix) with hold ("gracious, loyal"). This shift in meaning—from "counsel-power" to "solemnly loyal"—appears in medieval heroic legends: the figure Reinholt von Meilan (or Reinhold) in the Dietrich saga was the only knight spared at Erminrich's castle because of his unwavering loyalty to Dietrich. The insertion of the -h- in the name was likely influenced by this association with loyalty.
The Normans brought forms like Reinald or Reinold to Britain, where they merged with rare Old English and Old Norse cognates. However, the modern German Reinhold remains distinct, popularized by heroic figures in medieval epics.
Notable Figures
Saint Reinhold of Cologne (also known as Reinhold von Montalban) is venerated as a martyr, and his cult helped spread the name in the Rhineland. In legend, Reinhold von Montalban was one of the Four Sons of Aymon, a paladin in Carolingian cycles. The name also appears in the Dietrich von Bern saga as Reinholt von Meilan.
Distribution and Variants
Reinhold has cognates across Europe: Renaud (French), Rinaldo (Italian), Reinoud and Reinout (Dutch), Ronald (Scottish), Reginald (English), and Reinald (Germanic). In German-speaking countries, Reinhold remained common through the 20th century.
- Meaning: Council-power (original); pure and loyal (folk etymology)
- Origin: Germanic elements regin + walt; later reinterpreted as rein + hold
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: Germany, Germanic-speaking Europe
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Reinhold