Surname Göckemeyer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Göckemeyer: What does the surname Göckemeyer mean?
The last name Göckemeyer is of German origin, and is a variant of the name Gockemeijer. This name is derived from the old German words "gucken" or "göcken" which mean "to watch" or "to look", and the word "meyer" which means "mayor” or “steward”. This name was traditionally used to represent people of high social rank who were responsible for overseeing other villagers or workers. This name was sometimes also used to refer to people who were designated as watchmen, either living near coastlines to look out for dangers or in villages to keep out unwanted visitors.
This name has been used in Germany for centuries, its earliest recorded mention being in the fourteenth century in the documentary sources of the area of Gaytinger in the Lower Rhine region. Its usage peaked in popularity during the nineteenth century, when many local records demonstrate the widespread use of the name across the area and beyond.
Since then, this name has been shortened and is most commonly seen in the form Gockemeyer. It can be found in other anglicized forms, such as Gockemeijer, Gockemeyer, Gockmeyer, Gockemayer, Gockmeyer, and Goeckemis.
Today, this name is found all around the world, with many people bearing this name having emigrated to other countries. It is a popular surname in the United States, and many Gockemeijer’s can be traced back to having migrated there during the nineteenth century.
Order DNA origin analysisGöckemeyer: Where does the name Göckemeyer come from?
Today, the last name Göckemeyer is primarily associated with Germany and the surrounding countries. It is believed that the name originated in the lowland regions of Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. While the name is most common in the region it originated in, other countries such as Switzerland, France, and Austria have also recorded instances of it. More recently, there is evidence of the Göckemeyer surname appearing in some parts of the United States, most likely carried over to the country by one of its many immigrants.
In Germany, the Göckemeyer name is quite common and is usually associated with the state of Lower Saxony. This state is composed of the northern part of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and several surrounding areas. The city of Göttingen—which is the birthplace of the Göckemeyer family—lies within it.
It’s interesting to note that the Göckemeyer surname is especially popular around the city of Göttingen. The name itself originates from the surrounding city and is derived from the Old German word ‘kleinmeer’, which means ‘little lake’. This name is indicative of the region’s geographical features—namely, its numerous shallow lake-like bodies of water.
Overall, the Göckemeyer name is most commonly associated with the region of Lower Saxony in Germany. The surname is also seen in other parts of Europe, as well as in the United States, as a result of immigration. The Göckemeyer name is an interesting glimpse into the past, as it is strongly associated with the area it originated from.
Variations of the surname Göckemeyer
Göckemeyer is a German surname which is derived from a combination of two words ‘gōk’ and ‘meiher.’ The ‘gōk’ means ‘ridge’ or ‘rampart’ and the ‘meiher’ stands for ‘meadow.’ The Göckemeyers are known to be descendants of old German settlers who had settled in the olden days in the original Gökmeiher, which is a part of modern day Germany.
Göckemeyer is also known by various other spellings such as Goeckemeyer, Gökmeyer, Goekmeyer, Goekmeyor, Göckmeyor, Goekmeyern, Göckmeyern, Gökmeyor, Gökmeyern, Go eckemeyer, Goekmeer, Gockemile, Göckmeer, Goekmeiler, Gockmeiler, and Göckemeyor. Other surnames with similar meanings and origins related to Göckemeyer, include Goeken, Goecken, Goekens, Gocken, GoecKens, Gokken, and Gooken.
The Göckemeyer surname was primarily found in Lower Saxony (Germany), especially in the area of Leer and Aurich during the 19th and 20th centuries, but extended to other parts of Germany and Europe, including the Netherlands, Poland, France, and even Russia. When some of the Göckemeyers immigrated to the United States and other countries, the spelling of the surname got changed to either Goeckemeyer, Gockemeier or Gockemil, which could be seen in some of the records.
Göckemeyer is known as a German surname associated with a variety of German immigrants who picked up the name in the early days. Thus with its various alternate spellings, the last name stands to signify a rich and interesting German heritage.
Famous people with the name Göckemeyer
- Hans Göckemeyer: is a German diplomat and a senior Partner of Charlemagne Development Consulting GmbH, Germany. He served as the German Ambassador to Japan and was the German Ambassador to NATO from 2005 to 2009.
- Helmut Göckemeyer: is a German press photographer who has worked for publications such as Der Spiegel, Stern and Die Welt.
- Gerhard Göckemeyer: is a German organist and musicologist and also worked as a conductor in Ludwigsburg.
- Eric Göckemeyer: is a former German swimmer who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Karl August Göckemeyer: was a German sculptor who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries. He is best known for his fountains and memorials.
- Stefan Göckemeyer: is a German journalist and writer. He is a former editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine "DE:BUG", and has written many books and articles on culture and media.
- Thomas Göckemeyer: is a German actor who is best known for his roles in the television series Westart, which aired from 1976 to 1981.
- Christian Göckemeyer: is a German lawyer and business consultant. He specializes in Starting and Cross-Border Businesses in Offshore and International Tax Structuring.
- Christof Göckemeyer: is a German Sport Administrator. He is the former General Secretary of the German Sports Federation.
- Susanne Göckemeyer: is a German artist and graphic designer. She has created commissioned work for many prominent German companies and organizations, including the Deutsche Bank and the Goethe Institute.