Surname Kottmeir - Meaning and Origin

Kottmeir: What does the surname Kottmeir mean?

The last name Kottmeir derives from the German phrase "Kotten Meier," translating to "cottage master." It was typically a name given to a peasant or small farmer who owned and managed a farmhouse. Often times such dwellings were centuries old and more spacious than those of the surrounding villagers, making them ideal locations for meiers (managers) to live and oversee their crops and livestock.

The name was part of the German feudal system which saw small farmers give a portion of their yield to an overlord or landlord in exchange for protection from bandits and raiders. The Kottmeir family may have had more land and responsibility than other peasants, causing them to use the phrase to distinguish themselves.

Although the name originated centuries ago, it is still used today, primarily in Germany and a few other countries in Europe. Those who carry the Kottmeir name are usually proud of their agricultural return to their heritage and continue to honor the traditions of their ancestors.

Kottmeir: Where does the name Kottmeir come from?

The last name Kottmeir is mainly found in the German-speaking countries of Europe today. This includes Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The name is believed to originate from Central Europe, and has been recorded in Germany since the 13th century. It is thought to be a Germanized form of an ethnic Slovak surname, Kottmajer.

The first references to the name were found in Germany, in Bavaria specifically, and it spread throughout the country over the years. Most evidence of the name is still found in Germany, with the country being the epicenter of its usage. Many Kottmeirs can be found in the states of Bavaria, Saxony, and Hesse.

In addition to Germany, the peak of the concentration of the name Kottmeir can be found in Austria, where its usage is particularly high in the counties of Upper Austria and Salzburg. Austria alone accounts for almost a quarter of the population with the Kottmeir surname.

Switzerland is home to the third-largest concentration of the Kottmeir surname, followed by Luxembourg, the United States, the Netherlands, and France in that order. Other countries with smaller pockets of Kottmeirs include Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Variations of the surname Kottmeir

The surname Kottmeir is a variation of Kautenmeir, a German surname of unknown origin. It is an uncommon surname in the German-speaking world, and has several regional variants and spellings. Commonly, the surname is spelt Kautenmeir or Kautenmeier, but it may also frequently appear as Kottenmeir, Kottenmeier, Kottenmaier, Köttenmeir, Köttenmeier, Köttmeier, Köttmaier, and Kottmeir in various parts of Germany.

In Canada, the spelling Kautenmeir is still seen, as the original German spellings of immigrant surnames – such as this one – were not usually changed to fit anglicised phonetics or pronunciation rules. In Switzerland, the surname mainly appears as Kottmeier, but occasionally as Kautenmeier. In the United States, however, the simplified spelling Kottenmeir is most commonly seen, while Kottmeier is also seen.

In both Germany and the United States, this surname is occasionally used as a given name, due to its pleasant-sounding syllables and melodious sound. Despite its fairly uncommon frequency, the surname has given rise to several derivatives, including the names Kottenheimer and Kottensing.

Famous people with the name Kottmeir

• Madeline Kottmeir: American Olympic hurdler who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Markus Kottmeir: German motorcycle racer and European Championship titleholder.
• Elisabeth Kottmeir: Austrian news presenter.
• Johnny Kottmeir: Italian professional basketball player.
• Martina Kottmeir: Austrian ski racer and Olympic athlete.
• Daniel Kottmeir: Australian musician and songwriter.
• Katherine Kottmeir: American professional dancer.
• Tessa Kottmeir: Danish singer and songwriter.
• Michael Kottmeir: French cinema director.
• Edward Kottmeir: American author and historian.
• Jake Kottmeir: Canadian professional cyclist.
• Donald Kottmeir: Swiss computer scientist and entrepreneur.
• Richard Kottmeir: American television writer and producer.

Other surnames

KottmeierKottmeyer