Surname Altmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Altmayr: What does the surname Altmayr mean?
The last name Altmayr is a German surname suggesting a possible origin in Bavaria, where it is still in common use today. The name is derived from the Old High German words "alt" and "meire" meaning "old mead". Thus, the name Altmayr literally translates to mean "old mead".
At the time when the Altmayr family first adopted this name, mead was a popular beverage. Mead, a fermented drink made with honey, has a long history of use in Germany and other parts of Europe, and was a common beverage of choice at festivities and banquets. Because of this, Altmayr is thought to have been originally attributed to an individual who was skilled in the craft and production of mead.
This inference is further grounded by the fact that Altmayr was only ever used in Bavaria and some surrounding regions in the south of Germany. There have been cases of Altmayrs moving out of the region, but the name is still closely associated with Bavaria. It can be assumed, then, that the family initially settled in this area and the name was carried on as a reflection of the family's heritage.
In summary, the name Altmayr is an Old High German name which carries the literal translation of "old mead". It is believed to have been first used in Bavaria, and created to reflect the lineage of one who was a skilled producer and purveyor of mead.
Order DNA origin analysisAltmayr: Where does the name Altmayr come from?
The Altmayr surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. It is also found in small numbers in some other countries, including the United States. The family's origin is believed to come from the Germanic word "alt," which means "old."
In Germany, the surname Altmayr is concentrated in the state of Bavaria. It is particularly found in the municipalities of Bayreuth, Oberpfalz, and Nürnberg. In Austria, its highest concentrations can be found in the town of Eggenburg and its surrounding areas in the state of Lower Austria.
In the United States, the name is most common in Texas and Pennsylvania, with small numbers also found in New York, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It is also found in parts of Canada, the UK, France, and Australia.
The name Altmayr has a noble history, as many of its bearers served in the prominent positions of politics and business in Bavaria during the 19th century. Some members of the family went on to become members of the Bavarian nobility.
Today, the name Altmayr is still a prominent family in Europe, with many of its members still tracing their ancestry to the original family. Though its presence is small, the surname still remains present in some parts of the world, including the United States.
Variations of the surname Altmayr
The surname Altmayr is of German-Austrian origin and has been recorded in various dialects and languages over the centuries. The earliest surviving records of the name date back to 1620, from the province of Styria in Austria.
The surname Altmayr is usually spelled in its original German form and has variants that range from "Altmayer" to "Altmair". These are the spelling variations used predominantly throughout Germany and Austria.
The name has also been rendered in some other languages, including Hungarian and Czech. In Hungary, it is spelled "Altmayer" and in the Czech Republic it is "Altmayer".
The various spellings of Altmayr have developed additional derived surnames, including “Altmeyer”, “Altmayr”, “Altmayer”, “Altmayer”, “Altmair”, “Altmaier” and “Altmeier”. These variations are most commonly seen in Austria, Germany, and parts of Switzerland. In the United States, the American variant of the name is “Altmyer”, which is seen in all parts of the country.
Altmayr is not an especially common surname, though it is possible to find records of it as far back as the 1600s. Today, it can be located throughout Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the United States.
Famous people with the name Altmayr
- Olof Altmayr, Swedish author and journalist
- Florian Altmayr, co-founder and CEO of German solar energy company Energie360°
- Lenora Altmayr, actress on the soap series La Ciudad
- Martina Altmayr, German archaeologist currently working at the University of Mainz
- Tomi Altmayr, Austrian composer
- Fred Altmayr, former Austrian football player
- Wenzel Altmayr, Austrian painter
- Anton Altmayr, Slovenian common law lawyer
- Ferdinand Altmayr, Austrian diplomat from the 19th century
- Anna Altmayr, German artist and painter