Surname Burrmeister - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Burrmeister: What does the surname Burrmeister mean?
The surname Burrmeister is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German term 'bur(re)mestere', meaning 'clerk' or a 'law official'. For centuries, because many records of families were lost due to wars, disease or lack of recording systems, people often took on surnames based on their occupation, birthplace or some physical or personality characteristics of the first known bearers of the name.
Burrmeister is a patronymic surname, belonging to the category of hereditary surnames, which originally were derived from the given name of the father or mother of the original barringer. In the case of the Burrmeister surname, this refers to someone who worked as a clerk or a law official. The original bearer of the name may also have earned his title by being a good advisor to a local baron or nobility.
The earliest known record of a family bearing this surname was probably the 14th-century German Tax Registers of the Barony of Renfrew in the Province of Brandenberg, where one Matthias Burrmestere was noted as holding the position of court clerk or royal tax collector. During this time, widespread use of the Burrmeister surname would have been a result of the local governments' use of hereditary surnames as a way to track taxes.
A variant of the name is probably still in use today, particularly in areas of Germany and Austria and other parts of Europe, as a sign of continuity with the past. A distinguishing characteristic of the Burrmeister surname is the original bearer's dedication to justice and law. This makes it a powerful and meaningful choice for anyone looking to honor their ancestor's hard work and accomplishments.
Order DNA origin analysisBurrmeister: Where does the name Burrmeister come from?
The surname Burrmeister is not common in the United States but is found in parts of Germany. People with the name Burrmeister are likely to have their ancestral origins in certain regions of Germany, where the surname is still quite common today, especially in northern and western territories. In the medieval period, the Burrmeister family were largely found in the upper Palatinate region of Bavaria, where they were in charge of milling and grinding of grain and flour for the local community. This occupation is where the name is likely derived from – it is a combination of the German words "burr," meaning "grain," and "meister," meaning "master." It is likely that names in this family were also associated with merchants or traders of grain and other agriculturally-based products.
Today, the name is particularly clustered in various pockets of northern and western Germany, particularly in and around Heidelberg, Bielefeld, Munich, and Hanover. In Germany, the name is also found among various parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bremen. Records of this surname have also been documented in Belgium and Switzerland, where the name was likely introduced by German immigrants.
The Burrmeister family can be traced back to the year 1337, when records of the earliest members of the family are documented in several parts of Germany. These records indicate that the surname was a popular tradition in these communities and was passed on through many generations until it eventually spread to parts of Europe and later to North America.
Variations of the surname Burrmeister
The surname Burrmeister is of German origin and derives from the German for "master of a borough or village" combining two words: burr (short for berg meaning mountain) and meister (master or lord). Its variants are spelled in different ways, including: Burrmeister, Burmeister, Bürmeister, Burrmisster, Burmisser, Bermeister, and Bormeister.
The most common spelling variations of Burrmeister include: Bermeister, Burrmeister, and Burmeister which are all derived from the same root words found in the German language. These different spellings can help distinguish between families who settled in different regions of Germany.
The surname Burrmeister is also associated with several patronymic surnames, derived from the father's name, such as Burkmeister, Bormeister, Burmeisterin, Burmeister, and Bormeister.
Burrmeister is a rarely found name in the United States, but there are some records that exist. According to the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, a Burmeister family was living in Wisconsin and, according to the internet search engine White Pages, there is also a Burrmeister family listed in Detroit, Michigan.
Overall, the origins of the Burrmeister surname stems from Germany, and it can be found in several states in the United States. The variants range from Bermeister to Burmeisterin. Its other surnames related to its origin are Burkmeister, Bormeister, Burmeisterin, and Bormeister.
Famous people with the name Burrmeister
- Angela Burrmeister: Angela is a German painter and sculptor who works in many parts of the world. She is based in Berlin and her works can be found in many public and private collections throughout Germany and abroad.
- Heidi Burrmeister: Heidi is an American model who has been featured in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger, among others.
- Tessa Burrmeister: Tessa is a British designer who specializes in creating pieces using sustainable fabrics & materials. She has been featured in Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire.
- Thomas Burrmeister: Thomas is an Austrian physician and current head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna. He has published numerous papers on the subject of forensic medicine and is regarded as a global expert in the field.
- William Burrmeister: William was an American attorney and politician who represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1927 to 1933.
- Annemiek Burrmeister: Annemiek is a Dutch film director, producer, and screenwriter whose work has been featured in festivals around the world. She has a keen interest in stories about overlooked minority groups, such as refugee families.
- Edward Burrmeister: Edward is an American computer security specialist and has designed digital security solutions for clients around the world.
- Rainer Burrmeister: Rainer is a German chef who has won numerous awards for his recipes and is currently the head chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hamburg.