Surname Kirchmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchmaier: What does the surname Kirchmaier mean?
The last name Kirchmaier is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German words “chirch” and “mair” which together mean church mayor. As a result, the surname would have originally been given to someone in a position of local leadership – likely a mayor of a municipality or an administrator at a church.
The family name may also have been given to a supervisor or foreman of a larger estate, such as a manor. These individuals would have been responsible for determining the allocation of resources, taking care of managerial matters, and disbursing pay to the estate's workers.
Today, the last name Kirchmaier is quite common throughout both Germany and Central Europe, and is also found in many countries around the world. It is unclear how far back the name dates, or how many current Kirchmaiers are descended from a single ancestor, but what is clear is that the people bearing this name share a long and unique history.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchmaier: Where does the name Kirchmaier come from?
The last name Kirchmaier is predominantly found in Austria, mainly around the area of Upper Austria. In 2020, this last name was reported to be the 17th most common surname in Austria.
The Kirchmaier surname dates back to the 15th century. It is a derivative form of "Kirchmayer," which was an occupational name for someone who held the office of "Kirchmair," a kind of superintendent in charge of the local church. The surname was common in the Tyrol, Salzburg, and Upper Austria regions of Austria.
Today, the surname is most commonly found in the provinces of Upper Austria and Tyrol in Austria. In the United States, the surname is primarily found in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In Canada, the surname is most prevalent in Ontario and British Columbia.
The surname is also fairly common in Germany, mostly in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. It is also found frequently in Switzerland, particularly in Valais, Basel-Landschaft, and Zurich.
The Kirchmaier surname is most likely to be found in Austria, Germany, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland. Limited records may also indicate its presence in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, and Poland.
Variations of the surname Kirchmaier
The surname Kirchmaier is of German origins and is known to have several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Primarily, one can find the name spelled Kirchmaier, Kirchmayer, Kirchmeyer, Churchmair, Kirchmeir, and Kirchmeier.
Kirchmaier is a variant of an old German word, ‘kirchemaares’, which referred to a ‘church mayor’, or someone who had responsibility over a church. In the mid-19th Century, the spelling of the name most commonly seen in the US was Kirchmaier, although one can also find other spellings, including Kirchmayer, Kirchmeyer, Churchmair, Kirchmeir and Kirchmeier. Some of these other surnames may also be found in German records.
Two other surnames with similar origins are Kirchemayer and Kirchmair. Kirchemayer is a variant of Kirchmaier, while Kirchmair is a variant of Kirchmayer. These two surnames were more commonly found in German records.
In the early 20th Century, the surname Kirchmaier was common among German immigrants who had settled in the US. Consequently, it can be found in records throughout the United States, including in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa.
The popularity of the surname Kirchmaier also spread to other countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Consequently, one can find records of the surname in all of these countries, although it is less common in the United Kingdom compared to the other countries.
Overall, the surname Kirchmaier is of German origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin including Kirchmayer, Kirchmeyer, Churchmair, Kirchmeir, and Kirchmeier, as well as Kirchemayer and Kirchmair. It became popular among German immigrants in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom in the 20th Century.
Famous people with the name Kirchmaier
- Hannah Kirchmaier: singer and songwriter from London
- Marco Kirchmaier: German theatre and movie actor
- Florian Kirchmaier: German football player
- Carl Kirchmaier: former executive director of the German Association of Economic Departments
- Wolfgang Kirchmaier: German professor of international management
- Phillip Kirchmaier: German artist and photographer
- Johannes Kirchmaier: Famous Class VIII Fabulist
- Chris Kirchmaier: British football correspondent
- Heino Kirchmaier: German composer and professor
- Regina Kirchmaier: German Actress and Voice Actress