Surname Graßmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Graßmeier: What does the surname Graßmeier mean?
The last name Graßmeier is of German origin and is derived from a combination of two elements. The first element, 'Graß', is a short form of the German word 'Gras', which translates as 'grass' or 'herb'. The second element of the name, 'Meier', is a regional variant of the more widespread surname 'Maier' or 'Meyer', both of which are derived from the Latin word 'Majorem', meaning 'greater' or 'superior'. In medieval times, the name was usually given to someone who worked as an overseer of land, or as a tenant better, though it can also be a topographic name used to mean 'at the meadow near the grass'.
Today, those bearing the surname Graßmeier are scattered across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Historically, it was most commonly found in the southern German regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, and Thuringen, though in modern times it has spread to other areas of Germany and beyond. Graßmeier is an uncommon last name but it carries with it a long history and heritage of the German people.
Order DNA origin analysisGraßmeier: Where does the name Graßmeier come from?
The last name Graßmeier, also spelled Grasmeier, originates from Germany and is currently found in smaller numbers throughout the country. It is especially common in Bavaria, the central state of Germany and home to the Kingdom of Bavaria in the 19th century. It is also popular in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony.
Various records from Germany’s archives suggest the origin of the surname goes back to the years 1150–1200. This can be seen in “Matthan de Grossemeir”, who was the first recorded person with the name, in 1202 Heidelberg documents.
Due to heavy emigration from Germany beginning in the 1800’s, Graßmeier is also found in other countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. In the United States, many people with the surname settled in the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as other parts of the Midwest.
As with many surnames, there are a few variations of the spellings of Graßmeier. Variations include things such as Grassmeier, Grasmeier, Grasmair, and Grasmayr. The differences can arise due to dialectical differences or spelling changes that happened during emigration or arrival in new countries.
Overall, the Graßmeier surname is quite uncommon in most regions today and the majority of people with the name are still found in their place of origin — Germany.
Variations of the surname Graßmeier
The surname Graßmeier is derived from the Middle High German words ‘gras’ and ‘meiger’ which mean ‘herb’ and ‘keeper’ respectively. It is a topographic name that was used to describe someone who lived near a meadow, a field, or a grassy area. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Grassmayer, Grasmayer, Grasmair, Grassmair, Grassmeir, Grasmair, Grassmaier, Grasemayer, Grasemeier, Grasmeier, Grasmeir, Grasemeier, Grasemeir, Graezmeier, Graesmeier, Graesmeyer, and Graßmeir.
The Grassmayer variant originated in Bavaria and it is the most common. The Grasmayer variant is more common in Austria and South Tyrol. It can also be seen in other countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. The Grassmair variant is more common in Austria, while the Grassmeir and Grasmeir variants are typically found in Germany.
The Grasemeier, Grasemeir, Graezmeier, Graesmeier, and Graesmeyer variants of the name are more common in Germany and the Netherlands. The Graßmeier variant is the original spelling of the name and can be found in Germany and Austria.
The surname Graßmeier is also found in other spellings and variant forms such as Grasser, Gräser, Gräßer, Gräßmeier, and Gräßmair. These variants originated in Germany and Austria and are found in other countries such as the US, Canada, and Australia.
The surname Graßmeier can also be seen in various other forms of spellings and surnames such as Gramm, Graf, Gräf, Graff, Graß, Graue, Grim, Greim, and Greym. These are all variations of the original Graßmeier surname. These variants are found in various locations throughout Europe and the United States.
Famous people with the name Graßmeier
- Anna Graßmeier, German Television actress
- Árpád Graßmeier, Hungarian politician and former Member of the European Parliament
- John Graßmeier, American entomologist and insect pathologist
- Karl Graßmeier, German photographer and landscape artist
- Max Graßmeier, German football player
- Sylvia Graßmeier, German television actress
- Cornelia Graßmeier, German judoka
- Wilfried Graßmeier, German musician and cultural manager
- Gustav Graßmeier, German politician and Social Democratic member of the Reichstag
- Eberhard Graßmeier, German actor
- Christian Graßmeier, German environmental and developmental economist
- Christina Graßmeier, German film actress and producer
- Eric Graßmeier, German Ice Hockey player
- Annemarie Graßmeier, German archeologist
- Maximilian Graßmeier, Austrian composer and musicologist