Surname Folmayer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Folmayer: What does the surname Folmayer mean?
The last name Folmayer originates from Germany and has an interesting history. It is derived from the Germanic 'folm' meaning 'protection' combined with the word 'auher' which means 'ash tree'. The result is 'protection by the ash tree', which likely originated from a physical protective landmark such as an ash tree that the family may have used in ages past.
The surname likely derived from a geographical landmark that members of the same tribe used to recognize each other and as time moved on, the name continued to be used for that particular family lineage. It is still fairly common in Germany today, especially in the area near the Black Forest, where it first originated.
Besides Germany, Folmayer is also common among Austrian and Swedish populations as well as in other areas of Central Europe. It is thought that the migration of people from Middle Europe brought the name to the United States, where it is spelled Folmayer.
The last name Folmayer is associated with strength, honor and courage due to its meaning of 'protection by the ash tree'. It is an example of German culture and is held in high regard in many European countries. For these reasons, the last name Folmayer remains an important part of many people’s heritage and an essential piece of German familial history.
Order DNA origin analysisFolmayer: Where does the name Folmayer come from?
The last name Folmayer is most prevalent in Austria and Germany today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the surname was first found in those two countries where it is the 82,065th most common surname. It is most commonly found in the large cities of Vienna and Munich, both in Austria, and Berlin, Germany. In the United States, it is not as popular, where it ranked 33,107th in the 1990 census. However, Folmayer is still found in many other countries including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In addition to Austria and Germany, variants or other surnames derived from the Folmayer name can be found as far away as Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It is usually spelled Folmayer, Folmaier, and Faulmaier, but all of these are derived from the same root. In some cases, the double ‘m’ may be replaced with a single ‘m’ or a double ‘l’.
It is not known quite yet what the origin of the name may be. It is likely derived from the Germanic name Fulmiger, which means ‘a person from the famous family’, or could be derived from the Latin word fulminare meaning ‘lightning’. It is possible it was also derived from a place name. The name is still found in Germany, Austria, and other countries today, but it is not as popular as it once was.
Variations of the surname Folmayer
The surname Folmayer is an uncommon name in most parts of the world, and so there are not many variant spellings or surnames of the same origin. However, there are some slight variations that may be encountered depending on the region.
Variations of the surname Folmayer include Folmaier, Foulmayer, Fowlmayer, and Foulmayor. All of these are descended from the original surname, Folmayer. The surnames Folmyer and Folmyre, which have German origins, may also be related to Folmayer.
In some regions, the spellings Felmayer and Feldmayer have also been used interchangeably. These spellings likely originate from the surname “Fedeldmeyer,” which was derived from the German word “feld,” meaning field.
The surname Folmayer has also been shortened to Folmy and Folmey in some parts of Europe, particularly Germany, where it is more common.
In terms of other surnames that may share this origin, some of the surnames Fairmayer, Falmayer, and Flēmōr have been found to be related to Folmayer. Variations such as Folmier, Fulmayr, or Feymayer may also be related, although this is not definitively proven.
Overall, by far the greatest body of variants seen for the surname Folmayer is Foulmayer and its related spellings, as well as the various English spellings. The existence of these related spellings and surnames of similar origin suggests that the surname Folmayer has a long and complex history.
Famous people with the name Folmayer
- Ludwig Folmayer: An award-winning German actor.
- Udo Folmayer: Former footballer for Stuttgart and supervising manager of the German National Team.
- Charlotte Folmayer: German writer and author of several works about family life.
- Johann Folmayer: World champion sailor and current coach for the German Sailing Federation.
- Richard Folmayer: Austrian actor, known for his work in the Max Schmeling film, ‘Boxing, Ringen, Schlagring’.
- Dominik Folmayer: A renowned photographer, specializing in fashion, portraiture, and fine art photography.
- Alicia Folmayer: An Austrian professional figure skater who won the bronze medal in the European Figure Skating Championships.
- Otto Folmayer: A respected jazz musician who regularly performs at clubs and festivals throughout Germany.
- Charles Folmayer: An American record producer, best known for producing several classic albums including the Beatles’ ‘White Album’.
- Josef Folmayer: One of Austria’s leading impressionist painters, famous for his landscapes and cityscapes.