Surname Kothmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Kothmayr: What does the surname Kothmayr mean?
The last name Kothmayr is a German surname with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages. This name indicates someone of noble descent and comes from the Old German word for "counselor," Kothmair. The name was more commonly used in Austria and Bavaria and may have been granted to members of the nobility who served the emperor or offered guidance and advice.
This surname reflects the importance that was placed on offering council and suggests a reputable position in the community. For centuries, Kothmayrs have been characterized as wise, educated, and influential individuals. The roots of this name show a respected lineage and a desirable pedigree, as it was usually given to those of high standing in medieval society.
Aside from its association with nobility, the name has Jewish origins as well. Jews who settled in Bavaria and Austria in the late 18th and 19th centuries adopted variations of the German name to represent their Jewish heritage. This could explain why many Kothmayr families have roots in both Bavaria and Israel.
Today, the Kothmayr name (or variant spellings like Kothmayer or Koenigsmayr) is associated with an illustrious and distinguished past. Whether of Germanic or Jewish descent, those bearing this name can feel a connection to a long-standing heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKothmayr: Where does the name Kothmayr come from?
Kothmayr is a German surname, so it is still commonly found in that country today. It is most prominently found in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany.
In addition, Kothmayr is also a common surname in the United States and Canada, primarily among immigrants of German descent. Examples of Kothmayr family lines have been traced back to the mid-1800s, when German immigrants began to leave their homeland for a better life in North America. As a result, many families bearing the surname Kothmayr settled in areas such as the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard of the US, as well as in Ontario, Canada.
Today, the surname is also found in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark.
However, it is likely that the latest descendants of the surname, from the US, Canada, and Europe, all descended from the same original family line. The name is most commonly spelt ‘Kothmayr’ today, although variants such as Kothmayer, Kothmeier, and Kothmair are also seen.
Variations of the surname Kothmayr
The surname Kothmayr is of German origin, and is an occupational surname derived from the German word "Kothmair" meaning an "iron molder" or "puddle iron worker". Variants and spellings of the same origin include Kothmayer, Kothmair, Kothmair, Kothmeyer, Kothmyer, Kothmyr, Kothmeier, Kothemeier, Kothmar, Kothmart, Kothemar, Kothermar, Kothemer, and Kothimer. The name has spread far and wide due to ancestral migration to other countries including Austria, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
In Austria, the name is often spelled with a 'c' in place of the 'th' and is written as either Kothmayr or Kothmair. In Switzerland, the name is more commonly found spelled as either Kothmayer or Kottmayer. In the United States, the name has often been Americanized, and is adapted to different spellings such as Kothmyer, Kothmyers, and Kothmeir.
The name Kothmayr has also been recorded in other parts of the world, such as in Canada where it can be found as both Kothmeyer and Kothmeier. It has spread even further to other countries such as Italy where it can be found as Kothmayer and Kothimer.
The Kothmayr name has sometimes been conflated with other German names of similar sound, such as Kotheimer, Kudmayer, or Küttmacher. It is also sometimes confused with other occupational surnames derived from the same root word, such as Kupfermacher (coppersmith) and Uhrmacher (watchmaker). Therefore, if you are researching the Kothmayr name, it is important to remember to look for all its potential variations and spellings.
Famous people with the name Kothmayr
- Mirko Kothmayr: German weightlifter and the only Olympic weightlifter to be elected to the International Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
- August Kothmayr: German architect and professor of architecture at the Technical University of Berlin.
- Eggert Kothmayr: German physicist, specializing in ultrafast phenomena, and professor at the Institute of Physics at the University of Stuttgart.
- Johann Baptist Kothmayr: Austrian historian and librarian of the Vienna Academy of Sciences.
- Johann Jakob Kothmayr: Austrian botanist and teacher, best known for his work on the plants of the Austrian Alps.
- Willi Kothmayr: German writer and publisher, best known for his novel Die Uhr.
- Gerd Kothmayr: German engineer and founder of K
- Mathias Kothmayr: German politician and member of the Bundestag for Bayern Friedrichshafen.
- Matthias Kothmayr: German teacher and minerologist, best known for his work on fossilized bryozoans.
- Emma Kothmayr: Austrian poet and author of the novel Phantasien der Entsagung.