Surname Maissner - Meaning and Origin
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Maissner: What does the surname Maissner mean?
Maissner is a German surname derived from the Middle High German term for a mayor or magistrate. The name is composed of two elements - "mago" meaning man, and "segnere" meaning counsellor or minister. The term, first found in the 12th century, is likely related to the Latin word magister, meaning master or teacher.
The earliest record of the Maissner name was in the 14th century when it is listed in a Bohemian Church register. The name is concentrated in the Southern German region of Bavaria where it is among the top 200 most common surnames.
The spreading of this surname is believed to have been related to military service - at the time, as mayorship was an important position in the feudal system and many soldiers may have adopted this title as a surname in emulation of their benefactors.
The variants of this name vary, depending on the dialect of German spoken in each region - for example, the spelling Maissner is common in Germany and Austria, while Maissen is used in Switzerland.
Thus, the name Maissner has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages and likely associated with mayorship roles and military service. Today, the name is spread mainly across the German-speaking regions, with the spelling depending on dialectal preferences.
Order DNA origin analysisMaissner: Where does the name Maissner come from?
Maissner is an uncommon surname today. Although it was once more widely found in Germany, migration and changing family names over the course of history have diminished the prevalence of the whitetailed surname. As of 2014, Maissner had an estimated population of only 287 people with the surname in Germany, according to the Germany's Federal Statistics Office.
In the United States, the Maissner surname first appeared in the late 1840s when German immigrants, most likely from Bavaria and Prussia, settled in the Midwest and northern locations such as New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Today, the Maissner surname is primarily concentrated in the United States and is most prevalent in the state of Wisconsin. However, it is also found in states like Illinois, Indiana, and New York.
Maissner is also present in Canada with an estimated population of 34 people with this surname in 2006. In addition, there are a few people with this surname who have immigrated from Germany, Austria, and other countries to other parts of the world, such as New Zealand and Australia.
In conclusion, the name Maissner is a rare surname today and is not widely distributed across the globe. But it can be found in the United States, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and other countries where people of German heritage settled.
Variations of the surname Maissner
The surname Maissner is of German origin and there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including:
Maesener, Mässner, Maissner, Maüssner, Maeser, Mauser, Mäser, Maßner, Maier, and Mayer.
Maesener is derived from the Middle High German words “magin” and “senre” which meant “user of a knife.” This form of the surname was found most often in Swabia and Franconia.
Mässner is derived from the Middle High German word “messe” which means “meadow” and the word “ner” which means “dweller at.” This form of the surname was found primarily in Bavaria.
Maissner is derived from the Middle High German word “maiz” which means “Mais” which is a type of grain. This form of the surname likely indicated an occupation of a person who grew or processed this type of grain.
Maüssner is derived from the Middle High German word “maüse” which means “mouse.” This form of the surname likely indicated an occupation of a person who trapped or hunted mice.
Maeser is derived from the Middle High German words “mazer” and “senre” which meant “user of a hammer.” This form of the surname was found primarily in Swabia and Franconia.
Mauser and Mäser are derived from the Middle High German word “maus” which means “mouse.” This form of the surname likely indicated an occupation of a person who trapped or hunted mice.
Maßner is derived from the Middle High German word “mase” which means “falcon.” This form of the surname likely indicated an occupation of a person who trained or hunted with falcons.
Maier is derived from the Middle High German word “meier” which means “farmer.” This form of the surname was found most often in Swabia.
Finally, Mayer is derived from the Middle High German word “meiger” which means “mayor.” This form of the surname was found primarily in Swabia and Franconia.
Famous people with the name Maissner
- Emmy Maissner (1879–1962) was an American-Jewish children’s author.
- Erik Maissner (1934–2015) was a German Lutheran theologian.
- Cory Maissner (born 1983) is an American Olympic equestrian.
- John Maissner (1893–1971) was an American cinematographer.
- Hermann Maissner (1872–1917) was a German physicist.
- Franz Maissner (1823–1927) was an Austrian army field marshal.
- Oskar Maissner (1841–1917) was a German-Jewish literary historian.
- Jonas Maissner (1822–1902) was a German operatic tenor.
- Wolfgang Maissner (born 1937) is a German-Austrian mathematician.
- Karl Maissner (1811–1891) was a German philosopher and theologian.