Surname Eckmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Eckmeier: What does the surname Eckmeier mean?
The last name Eckmeier is a German or Dutch toponymic surname, meaning someone from "Eckmuhl". This refers to a place in the former Bavarian kingdom of Germany, or to the town of Eckmühl in The Netherlands. The name is derived from the Germanic or Dutch words for corner (ecke) and mill (mühle), suggesting the settlement was located at a river-milling site or a bend in a river.
The surname was first borne by someone who lived near an Eckmühle, or a mill situated at the corner of two rivers. It could also have been someone who worked in the mill, or a miller. Over time, this surname became associated with the family of the miller or of people who lived nearby.
The Eckmeier name has changed over centuries, with spelling variations such as Eckmuller, Eckmayer, Ecker, Ekkemeier, and Eickmeier. Today, variants of Eckmeier can be found throughout Europe, particularly in The Netherlands and Germany.
The Eckmeier surname is likely a marker of rural roots, since individuals with the name are largely concentrated in rural areas in both countries with strong ties to farming and milling activities. The Eckmeier surname also has a common link to religious practices, since it has been popularized in Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands by Moravian immigrants during the 19th century. The Moravians were a Protestant denomination who settled in various parts of Europe, including Germany, after fleeing religious persecution in their homeland.
Order DNA origin analysisEckmeier: Where does the name Eckmeier come from?
The last name Eckmeier has its origins in Germany. Today, this German surname is most commonly found in several countries in Europe, as well as in the United States and Canada. In Germany, it is found primarily in the states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Meanwhile, it is also quite common in Austria, particularly in the states of Styria and Vienna. In addition, it has a strong presence in Switzerland in the Cantons of Zurich and Bern.
In the northern and western hemisphere, the surname Eckmeier is perceived to be most common in the United States, with many members of the family with roots in Germany and Austria having settled in the country throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Setting up their homes mainly in states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, their descendants can still be found in these regions today. It is also found across Canada, particularly in the provinces of Québec, Ontario, and Alberta.
Overall, despite scattered pockets of the Eckmeier surname, around the world it is generally perceived that it is most commonly found in the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Eckmeier
The surname Eckmeier has several variants, spellings and surnames from the same origin. These variants include Eckmeyer, Eckmaier, Ekmaier, Eickmeier, Eickemaier, Eickmeyer, Eckemaier, Eckemayer, Eckemeier, Eggemaier, Eggemayer, Eggemeyer, Eggmeier, and Eckmayer.
The variant Eckmeyer derives from the Middle High German word "emurger", meaning near a stagnant pool. The other surnames that are of the same origin of Eckmeier come from other occupational derivatives like middlemen, millers, trades, or merchants. The word "maier" means mayor or steward, and the word "eick" means edge.
The variants of Eckmeier likely originate from several distinct regions of Germany. The most popular are Hessen, Bavaria, Prussia, and Silesia. Immigrants from these regions as well as other parts of Germany likely brought this surname to the United States and other countries in an effort to mark a unique identity.
This surname has many distinctly different spellings and genealogists have to be extremely careful when using Eckmeier as a search term. It may be spelled differently depending on the region it originates from. For instance, in Prussia, it may have been spelled Eckemayer, but in Bavaria, it may have been spelled Eggemeyer.
Regardless of the many variants, spellings and surnames that make up the surname Eckmeier, it is ultimately a German occupational surname that was used to identify a person's occupation. Knowing this history and the regional variations can help genealogists and other researchers to understand the origins and evolution of this surname.
Famous people with the name Eckmeier
- Matt Eckmeier: Professional skateboarder
- John Eckmeier: American poet and author
- Stephen Eckmeier: Chairman of German American Chamber of Commerce
- Marcus Eckmeier: German artist and sculptor
- Eugen Eckmeier: Formerly a member of German parliament
- Chris Eckmeier: German former professional footballer
- Sven Eckmeier: Former Chairman of the Berlin Parliament
- Dieter Eckmeier: former German politician and member of SPD party
- Fritz Eckmeier: Former German professional footballer
- Margret Eckmeier: German politician and cabinet minister