Surname Kothmeier - Meaning and Origin

Kothmeier: What does the surname Kothmeier mean?

The last name Kothmeier is a German surname. It likely originated as a habitational name, derived from a place called Kothmeier in Germany. The place-name is ultimately from the German word ‘kot’ (cottage or small house) and 'meier' (from the German for mayor, 'Meier', a title for an official or magistrate).

The Kothmeiers were likely people who lived in or near this particular village. The name is still found mainly in the area around Bavaria and in parts of Austria.

The Kothmeiers have played an important role in Bavarian culture, heritage, and history. The region was a significant venue for logging, which provided employment and other commercial opportunities for the Kothmeiers. They were thought to have been among the earliest settlers in the Bavarian woods, and their name symbolises an important part of Bavarian history.

Kothmeiers also have a strong influence on the culinary tradition of Bavaria, where they were said to have given their name to the Kothmeier style of cake. Shelves across the region are stocked with Kothmeier cakes that are round-shaped with a rich vanilla layer between two thin layers of egg dough.

Today, the Kothmeier family is still mainly concentrated in Bavaria. The family’s legacy lives on in the exhibitions of the family’s paintings, documents and photographs at the Kothmeier Museum in Bavaria, and in recipes of their famous cake.

Kothmeier: Where does the name Kothmeier come from?

The last name Kothmeier is most common today in Germany. Its current prevalence is relatively low, with around 3000 people sharing the name currently residing in the country.

The roots of the Kothmeier family trace back to Bavaria, the region of Germany known for its mountains, mirrored by the meaning of the name: Koth, meaning "mountain" or "rift," and Meier, meaning "lord of the manor." The earliest recorded versions of the Kothmeier name appear in Germany in the 17th century.

Kothmeier is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland, as well as parts of central Europe, where a small number have settled over the centuries.

Although the name Kothmeier does not exist outside of German-speaking countries, English-speakers in the United States who are or trace their heritage to these countries may be descendants of Kothmeier families. While immigration to the United States from Germany rose significantly through the 18th and 19th centuries, the name itself is relatively rare in the United States, with only a handful reported in the 2000 census.

The Kothmeier name remains vibrant in Germany and the surrounding region and is a reminder of the long-standing history of the German-speaking people in Europe.

Variations of the surname Kothmeier

Kothmeier is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the personal name Kottmar, which is an old German given name. Some variants of the surname include Kotmeyer, Kottmeyer, Kautmeyer, Kautmaier, Kautmair, Kothmaier, Cothmaier, Cothmayer, Kommair, Kommayr, Kommheimer, Kommaier, Kompmaier, and Kompmaier. The surname also has several different spellings, including Cotmeyer, Cotmaier, Kautmayer, Kautemeyer, Kommaior, Kompmayer, and Kompmeyer.

The surname Kothmeier may be found in early records in various forms. Records of Kothmeier include a mention of a Hans Kottmayer in 1533 and a Peter Kotmeyer from 1578 in the German state of Wurttemburg. In the Bavarian region, there are records of the family Kottmeier, including the birth record of a Hanns Kottmade in 1602 in Abtsgmünd.

Throughout German-speaking countries, many families bearing the surname have intermarried and the spelling of the name has evolved over time. It is possible that many variants or spellings of the name have arisen from these intermarriages, especially as dialects can vary within regions.

The name Kothmeier is also found in the United States, where it is sometimes anglicized to Kothmyer. Thus, the surname may be found in records under a variety of spellings from the American Midwest to the East Coast. Examples include the baptism registers of Jacob Kothmyer in 1768 in Pennsylvania, as well as Johannes Kothmeyer and Johannes Kothmayer in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the year 1785.

Famous people with the name Kothmeier

• Dr. Bruce Kothmeier, an American politician from Nebraska.
• Gregory Kothmeier, a former professional American baseball player.
• Erika Kothmeier, an award-winning American soprano.
• Mary Kothmeier, an American multi-instrumentalist.
• Jim Kothmeier, an American music producer.
• John Kothmeier, an American airline pilot.
• Edward Kothmeier, an American winner of the National Medal of Science.
• Donald Kothmeier, an American car and motorcycle racer.
• Marlene Kothmeier, an American actress.
• Andrew Kothmeier, an American psychotherapist.
• Jonathan Kothmeier, an American photojournalist.
• Christopher Kothmeier, an American philanthropist.
• David Kothmeier, a reality television star.
• Charles Kothmeier, an investor in the cannabis industry.
• Ryan Kothmeier, an American computer scientist.
• James Kothmeier, an American ice hockey player.
• Charles Kothmeier, Jr., an American entrepreneur.
• Robert Kothmeier, a U.S. Navy rear admiral.

Other surnames

Kothmeir