This interesting and unusual name with variant spellings Rigler and Riegler is a German name which has two possible origins, occupational and locational. Firstly, it is an occupational name for one who made bolts and cross-bars, 'riegel' meaning 'bolt'. Secondly, it may be locational from a town called Riegel near the city of Freiburg, Germany. The first recording of the surname was in the late 16th Century (see below). On September 12th 1775, one Nicholas Riglar married Margaret Welston in St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London. The name is also recorded in America, one John Riegler arrived in New York from Bremen, Germany on July 8th 1863 on board the 'New York'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anna Riegler (christening), which was dated 1573, Bayern, Germany, during the reign of King Maximillian 11, 'Holy Roman Emperor', 1564-1576. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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