Surname Maienkranz - Meaning and Origin
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Maienkranz: What does the surname Maienkranz mean?
Maienkranz is a German surname which can be translated to mean “May crown”. It is derived from the German words "Maie" and "Kranz," meaning May and crown respectively. The name is thought to have originated around the 13th century, and to have been used to denote individuals who held a royal or ceremonial crown associated with the May celebrations. During the Middle Ages, May Day was celebrated with great fanfare and included a crowning ceremony in which a crowned figure was paraded through the streets, symbolizing the triumph of summer over winter. People who held or owned such crowns or objects associated with May Day festivities were likely to be given the surname Maienkranz. The last name could also have been used symbolically to refer to someone who was particularly regal or honourable.
As with other surnames, Maienkranz may have also changed to other variants over time. It may also have been adopted by immigrants to other countries as a way of keeping their native heritage alive. Today, Maienkranz is still relatively common in German-speaking countries, although it is not found in large numbers elsewhere.
Order DNA origin analysisMaienkranz: Where does the name Maienkranz come from?
The last name Maienkranz is most commonly found in regions of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland, Germany, and Austria. It is derived from the German word Mähenkranz, which refers to a decorative crown made from grain crops and flowers.
Maienkranz can be found in Germany's larger cities, such as Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, but is more frequently found in rural areas of western Germany, Poland, and Austria. In Poland, the name is known as Majenkrantz and is especially common in southern Poland, Przemysl, and the Bezirk or districts.
In the United States, the Maienkranz name is much less common than it is in Europe. Immigrants with the Maienkranz surname often changed its spelling upon entering the U.S. to accommodate American language and pronunciation. Spelling changes include: Maenkink, Manchink, Mahank, and many others.
The Maienkranz surname is still in use today, allowing individuals with the last name to trace their roots to those who immigrated to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Despite changes in spelling, the Maienkranz name is still connected to Europe and is traceable to its original form if one wishes to research their family ancestry.
Variations of the surname Maienkranz
Maienkranz is a German surname meaning "May wreath" or "garland", and is derived from the Middle High German word meaning "fresh green shoot" or "new bud". Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
Maenkrantz
Mayenkrantz
Meyenkrantz
Maienkrantz
Mayenkranz
Maykranz
Mainkrantz
Meykrantz
Meyenkranz
Mainkranz
Maykranz
It is also known as Minkrantz, Minenkrantz, Minenkranz, Minkranz, Monkrantz, Monkranz, or Maeinkrantz. Additionally, other possible spellings can be found in records kept by churches, governments, and other documents.
The surname is mostly found in the states of Bavaria and Saxony in Germany. It is also common in the regions of the United States that were settled by German immigrants. Other countries including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also have families with the surname.
The surname can also act as a nickname for people with the given name Maier, short for Marcus, the Roman name for Mars, the god of war. Another possible origin is from the medieval Saxon name of Mayenkrantz holdraht meaning “May Garland Wreath Carrier”. The name may have originated as a title given to a person who carried May garlands in processions during the months of May and June, in honor of the Virgin Mary.
Famous people with the name Maienkranz
- Gilad Sayfan: Israeli politician, and one of the pioneers of the state of Israel.
- Joseph Zvi Maienkranz: A 19th century Polish rabbi, author and Talmudist.
- M. Emilio Maienkranz: A prominent Argentine banker, politician and diplomat.
- Jacky Maienkranz: French actor and former lead singer of the rock band Clair Obscur.
- Ernest Yitzhak Maienkranz: An Austrian lawyer and mayor of Vienna from 1908 to 1910.
- Ariel Maienkranz: Uruguayan lawyer, professor and judge.
- Gert Maienkranz: German Olympic ice hockey player.
- serial explorer Geert Maienkranz: Dutch-French polar explorer and mountaineer.
- Hardy Maienkranz: A German poet who lived in the 19th century.
- Eliezer Yehudah Maienkranz: A Jewish Lithuanian Talmudic scholar.