Surname Birkemeyer - Meaning and Origin

Birkemeyer: What does the surname Birkemeyer mean?

The last name Birkemeyer is of German origin and is derived from the German language elements ‘birken’ (birch tree) and ‘meyer’ (from ‘meierei’ meaning ‘farmstead’). It is believed that the surname originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a stand of birch trees, or as an occupational name for a soldier employed to patrol a birch wood.

In some cases, the surname could have referred to someone who worked as an alchemist who made drugs and medicines from the bark of birch trees. Additionally, the Birkemeyer surname is sometimes seen as a combination of a personal name with the suffix ‘-meyer’, indicating that the original bearers were the sons of a man with the same given name.

Birkemeyer is not a common surname; the 2000 United States census reported only about 1,600 people with the surname living in the United States. It is also found in Germany, where it is common in the Rhineland and North Rhine-Westphalia regions. Today, many people bearing the surname Birkemeyer continue to live in Germany, but there are also some people who have emigrated to other countries, such as the United States and Canada.

Birkemeyer: Where does the name Birkemeyer come from?

The last name Birkemeyer is of German origin and is relatively common in Germany, Luxembourg, and parts of the United States. Specifically, Birkemeyer is mainly found in the Rhineland area of Germany, in the western states of the U.S., including in Texas and California, and in Luxembourg.

In Germany, day-to-day records from 1895 indicate that the last name was mainly found in the Rhineland area, including in cities such as Cologne, Bonn, and Trier. It is still common in the main Rhineland area to this day, with a focus in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Saarland.

In the United States, census records from 1990 indicate that the last name was mainly found in the western states, particularly in Texas, California, and Arizona. It is still common in these states today.

Finally, in Luxembourg, records from around 1940 indicate that the last name was mostly present in the southeastern part of the country, particularly in the Grevenmacher and Remich regions. It is still quite common in these areas today.

Variations of the surname Birkemeyer

The surname Birkemeyer has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variants include Berkemeyer, Berkemeijer, Birkemeier, Birkemeijer, Birkemeyers, and Birmkemeier. These variants are believed to have arisen from the Dutch and Low German word "Berkemayer," which literally translates to "birch tree meadow".

Berkemeyer, Berkemeijer, and Birkemeier are the most common spellings, but other spellings of the surname are possible. These include: Berckemeyer, Berckemayer, Berkemeiger, Berkemey, Berkemeijers, Bierkemeijer, Berkmeyer, Berkmeijer, Birkmayer, Birkmey, Birkmeijer, and Birmkemeijer.

Tokens of the surname have been found in German states such as Thuringia and Westphalia since the Middle Ages, but the origins of the surname are unclear. Some sources suggest that the surname is derived from a place name, while others suggest it comes from an occupation such as a miller or a dealer in measures of grain.

The surname is also found in Scandinavia, where it is often spelled Bjerkemayer or Bærkemeyer. In the United States, the surname is sometimes Americanised to Berkmiller or Burkmeijer.

Birkemeyer is a relatively uncommon surnames no matter which variant is used. Despite this, the surname is found in various parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Birkemeyer

• Syd Birkemeyer: American voice actor known for voicing many characters in the animated television series, Rugrats.
• Meredith Birkemeyer: American author whose work has been featured on CBS, The Huffington Post, and Writer's Digest.
• George Birkemeyer: United States Navy veteran and award-winning writer with eight books and four plays to his name.
• Arlene Birkemeyer: American artist and mixed-media sculptor known for her whimsical sculptures of birds, fishes, and insects.
• Hans Birkemeyer: German carpenter and forester who emigrated to the United States in the 1830s.
• Adam Birkemeyer: American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name, Adam Page.
• Kurt Birkemeyer: German graphic artist, illustrator, and comic artist whose work has been seen in publications like Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Universe.
• Liesel Birkemeyer: German artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in books, galleries, exhibitions, and even in the form of performance art.
• Astrid Birkemeyer: German film and television actress best known for her roles in the movies Wir sind die Nacht and Verfolgt.
• Jochen Birkemeyer: German documentary filmmaker whose works have explored topics like the effects of war and peace, the role of religions in modern countries, and many other topics.

Other surnames

Birkemeier