Surname Köstermeier - Meaning and Origin
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Köstermeier: What does the surname Köstermeier mean?
Köstermeier is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word "kostermaere" meaning "foster brother." The name is composed of two elements, the first, "koster" meaning “foster brother,” and the second, "maere," meaning “fellow-servant of a convent.” In the middle ages, it was used as a nickname for a servant of a monastery or a cloister.
Often, descendants of this name took a job as monks, or as an assistant of the higher clergy, and adopted the name to express their job. In some cases, it was also used to identify a farmer who worked the land owned by a monastery or cloister. In most cases, it could symbolize someone who was loyal to their monastery and had a strong religious faith.
As Catholics, some families from this name were often keen to travel and migrated as diplomats or missionaries to other regions of Europe, taking their surname with them. It is mainly found in East and Central Europe, especially in Germany, Austria, and Poland, indicating a genealogical origin of the Germanic tribes.
Today, the meaning of the name and its origin may be forgotten amongst its many bearers, where the name may simply act as a reminder of their German or European heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKöstermeier: Where does the name Köstermeier come from?
The surname Köstermeier (alternatively spelt Koenstermeier and Koestermeier) is a Germanic name native to the German-speaking countries of Central Europe, which is still commonly found in those regions. It is derived from the German word 'Köster', meaning 'sexton', and thus indicates a person in a town or village responsible for religious duties such as ringing the church bells or managing burials.
Köstermeier is particularly widespread in Germany, and is the 26th most common surname in the country. Research shows the largest concentrations of the name are in the Lower Saxon region of central Germany. In the state of Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, the surname is slightly less common, but still features in its top 50.
In Austria, the Köstermeier name is also widespread, and boasts a place as the 49th most common surname in the country. Its highest density is concentrated in the north eastern region of Austria, particularly the state of Burgenland. The Austrian variety of the surname is spelt Kröstermeier, and is pronounced slightly differently.
The Köstermeier surname is also prevalent in neighbouring Czech Republic and Slovakia, but in both countries its occurrence is very low. Today, the name can still be mainly found in the regions of origin as described above.
Variations of the surname Köstermeier
Köstermeier is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "Köster" which can refer to a host or an inviting person. As such, the surname means "the master of the house" or the person who invites people in. It has many possible variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants are Köstnermeier, Köstermeier, Koehne Meier, Kestnermeier, Kestnermeyer, Kestnermyer, Kestermeyer, Kesslermyer, Köste Meier, Köhne Meier, Kestermyer, and Kösterer.
Variations of the surname include Kostermeyer, Kostermeir, Köstermaier, Köster third, Kösterking, Köstern, Kösterle, Kösterling, Köstermayer, Köstler, Köstlmeier, Köstner, Köstnermeister, Köstuer, and Königmeier.
Surnames of the same origin include Köster, Köstner, Köstermann, Köstermann, Königmann, Kösterdorf, Kösterloh, Kösters, Kölnmann, Kösterking, Köstermeyer, Köller'meyer, Köstermeyer, Köstenmeier, Köstermayer, Köstermaier, Köstermann, and Köstler.
The surname is found across Germany, especially in the Northwest and Southwest. It is also found in the Netherlands and other countries with German-speaking populations, such as Switzerland and Austria.
Famous people with the name Köstermeier
1.Henning Köstermeier: A German Olympic athlete who competed in the rowing events at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. 2.Jan-Philipp Köstermeier: A German ice hockey player who has played for the Grizzlys Wolfsburg (Germany) in the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga). 3.Christof Köstermeier : A German software engineer and CEO of the software company Capcito GmbH. 4.Leonhardt Köstermeier: A German painter, graphic designer, and Art Professor at the University of Augsburg in Bavaria, Germany. 5.Hans Köstermeier: A German close-up magician and awards winning mentalist.Köstermeier was a world class winner of the International Magic Convention Mind Magic Competition. 6.Wilhelm Köstermeier: A famous German sculptor who is renowned for his figurative bronze sculptures from the 1950s and 1960s. 7.Meike Köstermeier: A German television actress who has had roles in several German television series such as “Sturm der Liebe.” 8.Wilhelm Köstermeier Jr: A German industrial entrepreneur who was a prominent member of the infamous "Bund der Industriellen" (Union of Industrialists). 9.Kenneth Köstermeier: An electrical engineer from Texas who is the Executive Vice President of Siemens Energy Inc. in Houston, Texas. 10.Christian Köstermeier: A German film producer, director, and screenwriter, known for his projects such as “Der Tag an dem die Erde Stillstand” (The Day the Earth Stood Still), a 2008 science fiction thriller set in Berlin.