Surname Dinkelmeyer - Meaning and Origin

Dinkelmeyer: What does the surname Dinkelmeyer mean?

The last name Dinkelmeyer is a German surname that derives from the Old German word “Dinkle,” which is a nickname for someone who was small. The name was used to describe a “diminutive” person, someone of shorter stature than average. The meaning of “meyer” is derived from the Old German words “meiger” and “meigerin” and it means either “a tenant farmer” or “a custodian of property”.

In earlier times, people were named according to their physical characteristics or the occupation they held. Therefore, as a result of the two Old German words combined, Dinkelmeyer may have been an old German nickname for a tenant farmer who is small in stature. This last name was also popularized in the 1800s by two different families, both of whom settled in the U.S., now having descendants with the surname Dinkelmeyer.

This last name can be found throughout northern Germany, the Netherlands, and even in parts of America where it was brought over by immigrants. Today, it is thought that there are approximately 4,000 people with this last name, many of them living in Germany but also scattered throughout parts of the United States.

Overall, the last name Dinkelmeyer is derived from the Old German words “Dinkle” and “Meyer” and likely served as a nickname for a farmer who was small statured. Over time, it became the surname of many people living in Germany and the United States today.

Dinkelmeyer: Where does the name Dinkelmeyer come from?

The last name Dinkelmeyer is most common in Germany, with some families also having it in Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Germany has the highest concentration of Dinkelmeyers (over three thousand head families), however, other countries have around a few hundred each.

The Dinkelmeyer name stems from a German word meaning "dung hill" and originally was given to people living near a dung hill or in a place called "Dinkl" or "Dinkel". Because many families with this surname lived near Munich, the name has become associated with Bavaria. In particular, the regnal dynasty of Dinkelmeyers is still well-known in the Bavarian region.

Today, Dinkelmeyers live all across the world as international migration has caused the name to become more dispersed. In Germany and Austria, one can find some Dinkelmeyer families in the rural areas and small villages, while cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Berlin have higher concentrations.

In the United States, states like Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, and California have Dinkelmeyers living there. The United Kingdom also has a handful of Dinkelmeyer families in its larger cities, such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow.

No matter where they live, Dinkelmeyers are still connected to each other and share the same last name. The Dinkelmeyer name carries with them centuries of familial history and has been passed down from generation to generation for nearly as long as the family name has been around.

Variations of the surname Dinkelmeyer

The surnames Dinkelmeyer, Dinkelmeier, Dinkelmaier, and Dinkelmayer are all variations of the same family name. This surname is derived from a German or Dutch word composed of two elements, “Dinkel” and “Meyer”.

The element “Dinkel” comes from a type of grain known in German as “Dinkelkorn”, which is an ancient form of wheat or spelt. The second element “Meyer” is a common term in German and Dutch languages for “farmer” or “steward”. So together, the surname can be interpreted as “Farmer or Steward of Spelt”.

The spelling variants Dinkelmeijer, Dinkelmeijere, Denkelmeijer, Diekelmaier, and Diekelmeier reflect naming and spelling conventions in Germany and the Netherlands during the late Middle Ages. During this period, records were often not kept accurately and names evolved over the generations as they were passed down.

Therefore, the surname Dinkelmeyer has several spelling and variant surname forms which have emerged over the centuries. Examples include Denkelmeijer, Dinkelmeier, Dinkelmaier, Dinkelmayer, Diekelmaier, Diekelmeier, and Dinkelmeijer.

Famous people with the name Dinkelmeyer

• Joachim Dinkelmeyer: world leading neurobiologist and professor at the Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
• Marcie Dinkelmeyer: Paralympic snowboarder who made history by winning gold in the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
• Niklas Dinkelmeyer: Former professional soccer player who scored over 100 goals in his football career.
• Amélie Dinkelmeyer: World-renowned classical violinist and professor of string instruments at the University of Music and Arts in Munich, Germany.
• Frederic Dinkelmeyer: Award-winning composer, songwriter and producer. He has composed for movie soundtracks and has also collaborated with many pop and rock stars throughout his career.
• Jara Dinkelmeyer: Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, best known for her hit song "Lovely".
• Ana Dinkelmeyer: Professional ice skater, who holds the record for the most number of consecutive successful jumps in a figure skating routine.
• Cheyenne Dinkelmeyer: Professional dancer and choreographer with stints on popular TV shows like Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.
• Gretchen Dinkelmeyer: Award-winning conceptual artist, whose works have been featured in several renowned art galleries and museums.
• Leo Dinkelmeyer: Leading physicist and professor of physics at the University of Cambridge, England.

Other surnames

Dinkelmeier