Surname Buchmayer - Meaning and Origin

Buchmayer: What does the surname Buchmayer mean?

The last name Buchmayer is derived from two elements; ‘Buch’ which means book and ‘Mayer’ which is derived from the profession of a mayor. When combined, the overall meaning of the surname is typically interpreted as “book mayor”.

It’s believed that this name originates from medieval Germany as the common title of a mayor was ‘Buchmeister’--translated as “bookmaster” or “steward of books”. One of the most common jobs for these individuals during that time period was to keep records of important documents, such as records of brides, grooms, and births. They would often be responsible for the upkeep of court-related records as well. As a result, it’s likely that the surname Buchmayer was the name of a powerful family that had a tradition of filling the mayor’s role and may have even held special privileges to do so.

Today, the surname is found in many locations around the world, from the United States to Canada, as well as countries in Europe and South America. It’s also quite a popular German surname and among the 30,000 most common German surnames. Regardless of its origin, the Buchmayer surname is a reminder of a medieval tradition which still lives on in the present day.

Buchmayer: Where does the name Buchmayer come from?

The last name Buchmayer is mainly found in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. According to MyHeritage, it is most commmonly found in Austria, with around 12,500 people carrying the name. In Germany, there are around 4,000 people with the last name Buchmayer, and in Switzerland, the name is even more rare with only around 750 people registered.

Austria and Switzerland are known for having strong ties to German culture, which likely explains why Buchmayer is so popular in these areas. Within Germany, the name is particularly prevalent in the state of Bavaria. Other than Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the last name is also mostly found in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The last name Buchmayer can be dated back to the 15th century, when it was first recorded in Germany. It is thought to have derived from the Middle High German words "buch" meaning book and "majer" meaning mayor, potentially referring to someone who worked as an official in a village or town. The name can also be found in various spellings, including Buchmair, Buchmeyer, Buchmaier, or Buchmayr.

Variations of the surname Buchmayer

Buchmayer is a surname of both German and Jewish origin, with variants such as Buckmeier and Buckermeier. It is derived from the Middle German and Bavarian chumeler or kummerle, meaning “one who mediates”, and originated as an occupational name for a dealer in precious stones.

The German spellings for Buchmayer include Buchmeier, Buch•meier, Buchmeir, Buchmeyer, and Buch•meyer, and variants such as Buechmeier, Büchmeier, Buechmeyer, Buckmeir, Buckmeier, and Bückmeir.

In addition, Jews with the original surname Buchmayer may come from the Ashkenazi Hebrew Buchmar, which appeared in Yiddish and became Buchmaier, Buchmayer as well as variants such as Buchmier, Buchmyer, Bockmayer, Buckmayer, and Bukmaier.

The surname Buchmayer can also appear in anglicized forms, such as Beckmeyer, Bechmier, and Bexmeyer.

Surnames such as Bookmaier, Brookmeier, and Buschmeier are likely derived from a shortening of the name, with the addition of the German suffix, "-meier".

Other derivatives can include Baexmeyer, Buchmaier, Büchmaier, Buxmaier, Ceckmaier, Ceckmeyer, Eiseckmaier, Mackemeier, and Mackemeyer.

In central and southern Germany, Buchmayer is still a relatively common name. It is also known to be commonly found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, but is less known in countries outside of Europe.

Famous people with the name Buchmayer

• Karl Buchmayer: 14th century Austrian composer.
• Roman Buchmayer: famous Slovenian architect.
• Alexander Buchmayer: 19th century Austrian sculptor.
• Ernst Buchmayer: Austriancomposer, conductor, and arranger.
• John Buchmayer: American author and professor.
• Erwin Buchmayer: Austro-Hungarian architect and builder.
• Franz Buchmayer: 20th century Austrian painter, illustrator, and printmaker.
• Christoph Buchmayer: German actor and film director.
• Maximilian Buchmayer: Austrian ballet dancer.
• Eduard Buchmayer: Austrian zoologist andenvironmentalist.
• Erhard Buchmayer: German Olympic bronze medalist.
• Wolfgang Buchmayer: Austrian dancer, choreographer, and television personality.
• Jürgen Buchmayer: German chemist and professor.
• Gerhard Buchmayer: Austrian novelist and screenwriter.
• Bernhard Buchmayer: Austrian classical music composer.
• Anna Buchmayer- 2002 German Paralympic medalist in dressage.
• Dieter Buchmayer: Austrian sculptor and painter.
• Kurt Buchmayer: German musician active in the 1980’s.
• Wolfram Buchmayer: German actor and film director.
• Heribert Buchmayer: German cinematographer.

Other surnames

Buchmayr