Surname Mairhans - Meaning and Origin

Mairhans: What does the surname Mairhans mean?

The last name Mairhans is of German origin and is derived from the medieval personal name Merhans, which is formed from the Germanic elements “mar” meaning “fame” or “renown”, and “hans” meaning “God has been gracious”.

The name is derived from a Middle High German personal name first found in the Bavarian patrician family of Merbhans which closely resembled the name Mahrens. The family, who were judges of the Swabian Court of High Justice were first officially recorded in the 14th century.

The last name Mairhans began spreading in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, likely due to migration and religious persecution. The name has been found in the parts of Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Africa.

Today, Mairhans is thought to be primarily a German name, but it continues to extend and evolve across the world. It is a common surname and can have different combinations and spellings. The vast majority of people who have the name are of German descent but it is not exclusive to those of German origin.

Mairhans: Where does the name Mairhans come from?

The last name Mairhans is a German surname which is mostly found in Germany and its surrounding countries today. It is particularly common in the region of Pfalz, a state located in the south-west corner of the country. The Palatinate, as it is known in English, is the historical homeland of many German emigrants, which is likely where the Mairhans name originated.

The span of the Mairhans surname can reach beyond Germany to nearby countries. In the Netherlands a variant of the name, Merhans, is fairly widespread. In some cases, this name is further changed and adapted depending on the region it is found in. For example, the name has been adapted in Holland to Merhans or Marhans.

In older records, the Mairhans name has been documented as Meerhans, Mierhans, or even Muhrens. Furthermore, the name has been suggested to come from the German root word meer, meaning greater. This could point towards an aristocratic background for the origin of the Mairhans name.

Outside of Europe, the Mairhans surname has been taken over seas by a few emigrants over the years. In the United States, for example, the name is not particularly widespread, but there are a handful of records, largely concentrated in Pennsylvania, New York, and Iowa. Overall, the Mairhans name is still most predominantly found in its homeland of Germany today.

Variations of the surname Mairhans

The surname Mairhans is a German surname derived from the medieval German given name Mair. It is a variant of the surnames Mayor, Meir, Meyer, Myhr, Mayer, Mehr, Meier and Mairhofer. It is also found as a variant of Mairhanse, with the same derivation and meaning.

The surname Mairhans is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is also occasionally found in the United States and Canada due to immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variant spellings of the surname Mairhans include Mairhanser, Mayerhans, Meierhans, Mayerhanser, Mairhanser, Maierhanser, Mehrhanser, Meyerhanser, Myhrhanser and Mairhofer. All of these variants derive from the given name Mair.

Alternate surnames influenced by the same given name but not derived from it include Maer, Mair, Maier, Mairhofer, Maierhof, Maierhoff, Maierhofer, Maierhoffer, Maieren, Mairer, Mayr, Mayerer and Mayrhofer.

The Mairhans surname is often etymologically linked to the terms for mayor, master, and steward. Over time, the surname has been associated with city-dwellers and those in high positions of power and authority in the past.

Famous people with the name Mairhans

• Hans Mair: Austrian politician
• Augusto Mairhans: Brazilian biologist
• Robert Mairhans: German painter
• Ernst Mairhans: Austrian pioneer of social-psychology
• Gary Mairhans: American football player
• Juliane Mairhans: German actress
• Mark Mairhans: German actor
• Bernd Mairhans: German music producer
• Nathan Mairhans: American football player
• Ursula Mairhans: Austrian singer

Other surnames

Mairhanser