Surname Heilmair - Meaning and Origin
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Heilmair: What does the surname Heilmair mean?
The last name Heilmair is a German surname, often listed with various spellings such as Heilmeier, Heilmaier, or Heilmeir. The meaning of this name is derived from two words; "heil" meaning "happy, successful, or prosperous", and "meier" meaning "farmer". Thus, the literal translation of the name Heilmair is "farmer with good fortune".
The roots of the Heilmair name go deep into German history, as a record from 1360 mentions a Nagel Heylmaier in the town of Kulmbach. Other than that, the origin of the name is unclear.
The Heilmair surname has branched into many different spellings over the years, as records show 28 different excursions of the name in Germany from 1768-1886. This includes spellings such as Heilo, Heilmo, Heilmayr, and Heilmichl.
The Heilmair name has spread all over the world, as records from North America date back to the seventeenth century. Michael Heilmeyer departed the port of Philadelphia on the ship Neptune on October 13th, 1732.
While the meaning of Heilmair is "farmer with good fortune", the true meaning of this last name lies in the history behind it. Each family that carries the name Heilmair carries with it a piece of history gone by.
Order DNA origin analysisHeilmair: Where does the name Heilmair come from?
The last name Heilmair is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, in particular Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as in the United States and Canada. In Germany, the surname can mostly be found in regions like Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In Austria, the surname is more common in states like Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Tyrol. In Switzerland, the surname is most commonly found in the Canton of Zurich and the Grisons.
In the United States, the surname Heilmair is predominantly found on the East Coast, specifically the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In Canada, the last name is most commonly found in the province of Ontario.
Due to the large Austrian population in parts of the United States, for example, the greater Chicago area, it is possible that Heilmair can be found in states like Illinois as well, although it is not as common as on the East Coast.
The name Heilmair is derived from the German words ‘heil’, which means ‘whole’ or ‘sound’, and ‘mair’, which comes from an old German word for master or craftsman. Therefore, the name literally means ‘whole or sound master’ or ‘craftsman’.
Variations of the surname Heilmair
Heilmair is a surname of German origin. Variants, alternative spellings and surnames of similar origin include: Heilmeier, Heilmeir, Heilmaier, Heilmeyer, Hellmair, Hellmeir, Hellmaier, Hellmeyer, Helmaier, Hilmair, Hilmeir, Hilmaier, Hilmeyer, Hillmaier, Hillmaire, Hillmair, Hillmairer, Hillmeier, and Hillmeyer.
Heilmair is derived from the Old High German word hilm, meaning “protection” or “helmet”. It is most likely a locational name, referring to someone living near a place where protective helmets were made – such as a battle encampment. Variants of Heilmair share the same meaning, and so it is possible they were used by people from the same geographic area as the original Heilmair family.
The spelling variations of Heilmair reveal its Germanic origins. The most common form of this surname has a “Heil-” prefix, drawn from an older version of the root word hilm. However, other variants may have a “Hell-” or “Hill-” prefix also drawn from the same root. The “-mair,” “-meier,” “-meir,” and “-maier” suffixes have also become popular in different parts of Germany, as they indicate someone with the same Liegeity as the bearer of the name.
Thus, Heilmair is a name with a long and varied history, with many variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. Those whose surname is derived from Heilmair can be confident of its origins and meaning, as well as its deep connection to German culture and heritage.
Famous people with the name Heilmair
- Paul Heilmair (born 1964), Austrian composer and conductor
- Art Heilmair (1914–2006), former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Lili Heilmair (1913–1998), Austrian actress
- Franz Heilmair (1890-1962), Austrian officer and World War II general
- Max Heilmair (born 1912), German footballer
- Manfred Heilmair (born 1943), German businessman
- Johann Heilmair (1777-1842), Austrian architect
- Stefan Heilmair (born 1991), Austrian ice hockey player
- Laura Heilmair (born 1979), former professional volleyball player
- Andre Heilmair (born 1991), Austrian middle distance runner