Surname Burgmair - Meaning and Origin
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Burgmair: What does the surname Burgmair mean?
The surname Burgmair is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the German word “burg” meaning “fortified protection” and “mair” meaning “mayor.” The families who originally bore this last name were often employed as mayors or civic leaders of fortified villages and towns.
In Bavaria, Burgmair emerged as a noble family name in early times. During the Middle Ages, many of the Burgmair families held positions of power in their towns. Often, they were found in positions of law, such as judges, magistrates, or public officers. They also served as military officers or government officials. As a result, the Burgmair family had a great influence over local government and politics.
Due to their noble standing, the family became patrons of the arts, helping to define Bavarian culture. The family was said to have supported and even sponsored musicians, painters, and other artists who traveled through their towns. This was especially common in the area known as Upper Bavaria.
Today, the Burgmair surname is still found in Bavaria and elsewhere in Germany as well as across Europe and the United States. As the family has migrated to different countries, the Burgmair surname can also be seen in many other countries and cultures worldwide.
Order DNA origin analysisBurgmair: Where does the name Burgmair come from?
The last name Burgmair is a modern-day German surname. It is most common in countries where German is spoken, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Burgmair is also quite common in the United States, particularly in communities with a large German-American population such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and Minnesota. In the United States, the last name Burgmair is also found in Upper Midwest states such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, likely due to German immigrants who settled in those areas in the 19th century.
The last name Burgmair is derived from the German word “mair” or “mayer” meaning mayor. This indicates that members of the Burgmair surname likely held important positions of power or authority in their home villages. The prefix “burg” indicates that the family may have had noble roots or connections.
Overall, the surname Burgmair is still quite common today among German-speaking countries and those with German-American populations. It’s an interesting surname with deep roots in German history and culture. While family history is not known in each individual instance, the surname itself is a good indication of possible noble origins.
Variations of the surname Burgmair
The surname Burgmair is believed to be of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words ‘burg’, meaning ‘fort’ or ‘castle’, and ‘mair’, meaning ‘mayor’. Variants, spellings and surnames derived from it include:
Burgmayer, Burgmeyer, Bergmeir, Burghmeir, Burghmair, Burghmaier, Burkemayer, Bürgemayer, Bergmayer, Bergmayer, Bergmaier, Burghmeier, Berchmayer, Bürchmayer, Berkmayer, Burkmeier, Burlington, Burkholder, and Bergahm.
In some instances, surnames meeting the definition of ‘Burgmair’ have developed their own identity, such as the Austrian surname Berghauser and the variant Berghöser.
In the 1600s and 1700s, many families bearing the Burgmair surname were believed to have migrated from Germany to countries around the globe including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As such, it is still very common to find persons with the Burgmair surname in these countries today.
The Burgmair surname is still found today in large numbers in Germany itself, particularly in Bavaria — near the edge of the German Alps. It is also common in other central European countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
The name continues to be used worldwide in its original spelling ‘Burgmair’, as well as its variants, spellings and surnames. It is possible to find a Burgmair in many places around the world.
Famous people with the name Burgmair
- Helmut Burgmair: Austrian sailor, winner of a bronze medal in the 420 class at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Thomas Burgmair: German radio reporter, documentary filmmaker and audio book narrator.
- Maria Burgmair: Austrian short track speed skater, winner of silver medal at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Turkey.
- Maximilian Burgmair: Austrian painter, book illustrator and graphic artist of the Renaissance.
- Tobias Burgmair: German handball coach and former player, member of the German national team.
- Christine Burgmair: Austrian actress and theater director.
- Rita Burgmair: German actress and screenwriter.
- Justin Burgmair: American rower, bronze medalist at the 2013 World Rowing Championships.
- Günther Burgmair: Austrian long jumper, bronze medalist at the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Klaus Burgmair: German biathlete, winner of the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics.