Surname Eckmiller - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'E'
Eckmiller: What does the surname Eckmiller mean?
The last name Eckmiller is of German origin and is derived from the given name Eckmüller. This name was most likely derived from the Old German word eck which means corner. The surnames ending in -müller typically refer to a worker who owned or operated a mill or grinder. In German, it translates to miller or grinder.
In the 18th century, the Eckmiller family migrated to the United States from Baden-Wuerttemberg in search of a better life. It is likely that this family continued to work as millers or grinders in America, due to their background and knowledge of the trade.
This last name can be found all over the U.S., from New York to California. This is likely due to the Eckmillers’ entrepreneurial spirit and desire to explore new opportunities.
The Eckmiller surname is steeped in history and speaks of an industrious family of hardworking millers and grinders. Over time, the descendants of the Eckmillers have spread far and wide, but managed to retain their family name as a reminder of their journey to the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisEckmiller: Where does the name Eckmiller come from?
The surname Eckmiller is most commonly found today in Germany. It is particularly concentrated in the southern region of the country. According to the online family history resource Ancestry.com, the name is also found in the United States, but in much smaller numbers. In Germany, the surname is most heavily concentrated in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The surname Eckmiller appears to be of German origin, as the earliest references to the family name find them living in the regions of modern-day Germany. The earliest reference to the name dates back to 1472. Records show that Johannes Eckmillere was living in the village of Obermünster, in the upper part of Bavaria. The surname is believed to have originated during this time as a toponymic name, derived from the geographic location of the first individuals in the family to bear the name.
The name Eckmiller is relatively uncommon on a global level. However, thanks to the accessible records available in many European countries, it is possible to trace the history of the name and those who bear it. Many modern-day descendants of the Eckmiller family still live in Germany, primarily in the southern region of the country.
Variations of the surname Eckmiller
The surname Eckmiller has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants and surnames of the same origin are Eckmueller, Eckmueller, Eckmuller, Ekler, Eklerling, Acomiller, Acomiller, Acomillers, Acombiller, Acomiller, Acombillers, Aeckel, Aeckell, Eckel, Eckell, Eckels, Eckels, Eckman, Eckmann, Eckeman, Eckemann, Eckmanns, Eickel, Eickels, Eikels, Eiquele and Equele.
The etymology of the surname Eckmiller derives from the Middle High German word "ecke" which means "corner, edge" as in Ecker Corner from which the family likely derived its original surname. The family also likely had an ancestral origin in the area of Aachen, Germany which is likely the origin of the "A" spelling variants in some cases and the “E” initial as suffered from phonological changes over time.
The variant "Eickel" is a diminutive of the German personal name "Eike" which is derived from the Old German "Odo" meaning "wealthy".
In some cases the family may have adopted the name of their birthplace; such as an area in the old Rhineland region of Germany, to become Eckmiller; in effect becoming people from "Eckmiller" or Eckmiller’s homestead.
It is interesting to note that despite the numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, the Eckmiller surname is well established with higher numbers of individuals bearing the name in the USA than in other countries from which the family initially emigrated.
Famous people with the name Eckmiller
- Annemarie Eckmiller, German biathlete
- Carsten Eckmiller, German biologist
- Christina Eckmiller, German artistic gymnast
- Fritz Eckmiller, Germanonymist
- Jack Eckmiller, American football player
- Johannes Eckmiller, German field hockey player
- Martina Eckmiller, German javelin athlete
- Oskar Eckmiller, German geologist
- Ulrich Eckmiller, German politician
- Willi Eckmiller, German footballer
- Erwin Eckmiller, German painter