Surname Kirchmair - Meaning and Origin
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Kirchmair: What does the surname Kirchmair mean?
The surname Kirchmair is derived from the Middle High German word ‘kirch’ meaning ‘church’. It was a topographic name for someone who lived near a church, or was a clerk in a church. It was used an occupational name for those who worked in the church, like a clerk or sexton. It was also used as status name to denote a family’s high social standing.
The surname is mostly common in Germany and Austria. The variants Kirschmair, Kirchmayer and Kirchmayer indicate that the name originated in Bavaria or some other areas of southern Germany.
In the United States, the first known bearers of the surname Kirchmair were settlers in the mid-19th century, and came from northern Italy, Romania, and Slovakia.
Kirchmair is also associated with many famous Germans and Austrians, such as Johan Kirchmaier, who was a renowned priest and theologian. In addition, some people involved in the entertainment industry, like dancer Erich Kirchmair and film editor Peter Kirchmair, carry the surname.
Overall, the surname Kirchmair is a proud symbol of the church and one of its servants. It serves to honour those with a long history of working to uphold the Christian faith.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchmair: Where does the name Kirchmair come from?
The last name Kirchmair is most commonly seen in Austria, Germany, and Northern Italy. It is particularly prominent in the Austrian region of Tyrol, which is an area in the Alps. The last name is also found in the United States, particularly in some areas of the Midwest and in some of the larger cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In the U.S., the name Kirchmair is often spelled as Kirchmayer, Kirchmeier, Kirchmeir, or Kirchmaier. While originally a German-language last name, many variations of this name's spelling exist in various countries and languages.
The last name refers to a person who lived near, or operated a, church or chapel in an area known as an "Mair". This term originallyrefers to a tyrolian village or small town that once had multiple churches builtbyor devoted to a single owner or authority figure. In some instances, the name could be linked to a specific family or person,which is why variations of the name persist in different countries and areas.
The last name Kirchmair itself has also been linked to a few famous individuals. A notable example is Johann Kirchmair (1796–1872), who was a German Padre and professor at the college in Innsbruck, Austria, during the nineteenth century. The Kirchmaier family includes prominent computer scientists and physicists, who developed theoretical models in fields like graphical algorithms, healthcare information, and robotics.
Variations of the surname Kirchmair
The surname Kirchmair is a Germanic German surname derived from the Middle High German word kirch or church. The spelling variations and other forms of this surname include:
Kirchmeier - This variant of the surname would have been created from the German word for a church pastor, Pfarrer. It was mainly used as a title for a member of a clergy, and would have been given to someone who either held the office of a church pastor, or was related to a church pastor.
Kirchmaier - This is an alternate spelling variation and a less commonly used version of the surname.
Kircher - This variant of the surname derived from Old High German kirchero, a word meaning “church dweller.” It was likely used by a family who had a strong connection to the clergy or lived near a church.
Kirchmer - This is an alternate spelling variation of the surname, where the spelling of “m” and “e” were swapped.
Kirschner - This is a Jewish variant of the surname, used widely among Ashkenazi Jews.
Kerchner - This is a less commonly used variant of the surname which was likely derived from the German word “Kirchener.”
Kerschmair - This is a rare spelling variation of the surname used by some families in Germany.
Kirkmaier - This variant of the surname was likely derived from the Old High German “kirchero” or church dweller.
Kirchmayer - This variant of the surname was likely derived from the Middle High German “ kirchmair ” and was used to reference a church pastor.
Kirchemier - This surname variant was likely derived from the Middle High German “kirchmair” and used to reference a church pastor.
Kirchemayer - This is another variant of the surname which was likely created from the Middle High German word “kirchmair” and used to reference a church pastor.
Kirschmeir - This is a rare variant of the surname which would have originated from the Middle High German words “kirchmair” and “kirchemair.”
Kirchmaurer - This is a rare variant of the surname which originated from the Middle High German word “kirchmauer” and means “church waller.” The Kirchmaurer family was likely involved in the construction and maintenance of the stone walls of churches.
Kirchmeier - This variant of the surname was likely created from the Middle High German word “kirchmair” and would have been used to refer to a church pastor or member of the clergy.
Kirchmair is a Germanic surname of many spellings and variants which originated from the Middle High German word for church. This surname was likely used by families who had a strong connection to churches and the clergy. These variants and spellings can be used to trace past members of this originating family and gain insight into their lives and traditions.
Famous people with the name Kirchmair
- Andreas Kirchmair, critically acclaimed Austrian artist
- Simon Kirchmair, BMX freestyle world champion
- Leopold Kirchmair, Senior International Group Leader at F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co AG in Basel, Switzerland
- Rudi Kirchmair, Austrian professional footballer
- Stefan Kirchmair, Austrian professional snowboarder
- Karoline Kirchmair, Austrian alpine skier
- Jennifer Amanda Kirchmair, Austrian tennis player
- Gunnar Kirchmair, Austrian actor
- Madelaine Kirchmair, Austrian figure skater
- Thomas Kirchmair, Alpine skiing World Cup racer