Surname Linsenmayer - Meaning and Origin
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Linsenmayer: What does the surname Linsenmayer mean?
The last name Linsenmayer is of German origin and is found primarily in the Bavarian region of Germany. It was likely first used by someone who lived near a pond or small lake, as “Linsenmayer” translates to “from the pond meadow.”
It’s entirely possible that someone with the last name Linsenmayer also went by the name “Lensmein” at some point in time, since this is a Middle High German translation of “from the pond meadow.”
The prefix “Linse” is derived from a German word meaning “pond” or “pool”, and “mayer” came from “maier”, an old term meaning “steward” or “bailiff.” This indicates that the Linsenmayer family were likely farmers, feudal subjects or landowners in the past.
The Linsenmayer family has roots in Bavaria, Germany since at least the 14th century. The first mention of a Linsenmayer was in 1380 in the German city of Memmingen. Over the centuries members of that family spread throughout Germany, as well as to other European countries.
You can find contemporary Linsenmayer families in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
Although its relevance has changed over the centuries, the last name Linsenmayer still has meaning to those who bear it. It is a reminder of the family’s roots and its long history in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisLinsenmayer: Where does the name Linsenmayer come from?
The last name Linsenmayer is most commonly found today in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In Austria, the highest concentration of Linsenmayers is in the state of Upper Austria, where 1,261 people with the last name live. In Germany, the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse have the highest concentrations of individuals with the last name Linsenmayer. The state of Baden-Württemberg alone has 748 people with the last name, according to a 2019 population census.
In Switzerland, the most prominent regions with this last name are concentrated in Zürich and Bern; other cantons have lower populations, with only 5 individuals having the last name in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. In the United States, the last name is less common, but does exist in various states such as New York, California, and Texas.
The last name Linsenmayer is believed to be of Germanic or Swiss-Germanic origin. It is derived from the old German word "linsen," which is believed to be related to lens or lentils, and the word "mayer", which is a variant of the word mayor and was traditionally used to refer to the highest-ranking official in a city or town. Thus, it is believed the last name likely referred to an individual who held the position of mayor in a particular town or region.
Variations of the surname Linsenmayer
The surname Linsenmayer is believed to have originated in Germany, but has spread across Europe and beyond. It is most common in Austria, where it is also known by its full spelling, Linsenmeier, as well as various other forms such as Linsenmeyer, Linsenmaier, and Linsenmayr. In other countries it can appear in several variants, such as Linsenmair in Germany, Linesmaier in the Netherlands, and Linsenmâyer in France.
It is also possible to find the surname written in alternative ways, such as Lensmeyer, Linsmey, and Lensenmayer, although these forms are less common. Some individuals may even add an extra ‘en’, such as Linsenmeyern, or remove the final ‘er’, as in Linsenmai. In southern Germany, a variant with an extra ‘r’, Linsenmayerr, is sometimes seen.
Surnames derived from this root may also appear, such as the Dutch surname Lumensma, a variant of Linsenmaier. Due to the changing nature of language, some of the existing surnames may have been adapted over time, and there are likely to be many more variations that are yet to be discovered.
Famous people with the name Linsenmayer
- Mindy Linsenmayer: a professional musician and instructor at the Creative Music Group and School in Virginia's Fairfax County
- Paola Linsenmayer: Cuban visual artist and designer
- Dr. Lance Linsenmayer: a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University
- Mark E. Linsenmayer: a professor of philosophy at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- Frank Linsenmayer: a professional real estate agent in Massachusetts
- Thaddeus E. Linsenmayer: Director of the Corporation for Economic Development in Pennsylvania
- Jennifer Linsenmayer: founder of Elevation Health, a healthcare organization in Minnesota
- Cynthia Linsenmayer: a professor of education at California State University, Chico
- Karl Linsenmayer: a co-founder of the Brooklyn Theatre Lab in New York
- Kevin Linsenmayer: a television and film writer, producer, and director