Surname Graßmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Graßmeyer: What does the surname Graßmeyer mean?
The surname Graßmeyer is of German origin. It is composed of two elements, "graß", which is derived from the Old German word meaning "grass", and "meyer", which is derived from the Middle Low German word for "landowner". This gives the surname a literal meaning of "landowner of the grass".
Graßmeyer can be found in records as early as the 14th century in Germany, where it was common mainly in the state of Lower Saxony. It is likely to have originated from a local lord or landowner who was in charge of the grassy, rural areas in the region.
Today, Graßmeyer remains a fairly uncommon name. It is most common in Germany, where there are around 1,000 people bearing the name. Additionally, the name is sometimes found in both the United States and Canada, mainly in areas with large German-American and German-Canadian populations.
It is likely that most people surnamed Graßmeyer today are descendants of the original German families who first bore the name. As such, the surname is likely to have retained the same meaning attached to it centuries ago—“landowner of the grass”.
Order DNA origin analysisGraßmeyer: Where does the name Graßmeyer come from?
The last name Graßmeyer is most commonly found in former East Germany, specifically in the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony. The name is particularly common in the former East German city of Leipzig in Saxony, and is believed to have been introduced to the area during the thirteenth century.
The name is thought to come from the German words graß (grass) and meyer (farmer), and likely represents an occupational name for a farmer who grew grass. The name was probably used to indicate such a farmer, since the city of Leipzig was once a major center of the wool and cloth industry. Because of this, grass was an important agricultural commodity for farmers.
The Graßmeyer name is less common in other parts of Germany. It is still found in Austria, but it is believed to have been brought there by families moving from East Germany after the Second World War. The name can also be found in North America, likely brought by immigrants from Europe. However, the name is much more common in today's Germany, particularly in the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony.
Variations of the surname Graßmeyer
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Graßmeyer are as follows:
• Grassmeyer (also spelled as Grass-Meyer and Graßmeyer,
• Graessmeyer,
• Graesmeyer,
• Greßmeyer (or Größmeyer),
• Gressmeyer,
• Größmeyer,
• Gressmayer,
• Graffmeyer,
• Graffemeier,
• Greßmeier,
• Grossmeir,
• Grassmaier,
• Grassmeier,
• Großmaier,
• Grasmayer,
• Gräßmer,
• Greßemer,
• Graßemeyer,
• Graßmeir.
Graßmeyer is a German surname derived from the term "Gras-Meier," which in turn comes from the Middle High German word grôzmeer, meaning ‘he who tends and mows the grass’. It is likely that many of the various spellings and interpretations have occurred simply due to regional variations of how the name has changed in pronunciation over the centuries. For instance, whereas the -meyer spelling of the name suggests the profession of a ‘meister’, or master of grass, the variant -meier could reflect a northern Germanic pronunciation.
In any case, these surnames all stem from the same root and its related profession of grass tending. Whether the current spelling is Graessmeyer, Graesmeyer or Grassmeyer, all mean the same in terms of origin and have no great significance in Germany in terms of regional preference today.
Famous people with the name Graßmeyer
- Al Graßmeyer, a German journalist and author
- Jochen Graßmeyer, a German Fußball (soccer) coach
- Philip Graßmeyer, a Swiss painter
- Kurt Graßmeyer, a German actor
- Dierk Graßmeyer, a German singer and musician
- Eva Graßmeyer, a German television presenter
- Adolf Graßmeyer, a German publisher and author
- Barbara Graßmeyer, a German chemist and nuclear physicist
- Andreas Graßmeyer, a German astrophysics professor
- Hans Graßmeyer, a German mountaineer and author
- Margarete Graßmeyer, a German costume designer
- Benno Graßmeyer, a German natural scientist
- Walter Graßmeyer, a German sculptor and painter
- Katharina Graßmeyer, a German singer
- Andrea Graßmeyer, a German violonist
- Karl Graßmeyer, a German olympic runner
- Franz Graßmeyer, a German strongman
- Sabine Graßmeyer, a German judoka
- Britta Graßmeyer, an Austrian sports woman
- Christian Graßmeyer, a German comedian and actor