Surname Mawhorter - Meaning and Origin
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Mawhorter: What does the surname Mawhorter mean?
The last name Mawhorter has an interesting history behind it. It is derived from a dialect of Middle High German, where the word mohnar meant “wheat farmer”, “miller” or “farmer.” The surname is found in some records from as early as the 13th century in parts of Germany, later migrating to both Germany and The Netherlands in the 16th century and eventually spreading throughout Europe.
The Mawhorter surname can be found in England and other countries, where the name was adopted and changed to reflect the conventions and customs of the language spoken in the given country, such as in America, where it was changed to Mahorter. Variations such as Mowhorter, Mayhorter, and Mayhewer can also be found.
The Mawhorter family is generally thought to be of Germanic origin. As such, it is not surprising that the family is extensively detailed in German genealogies. Notable names of the family include scholar and author Andrew Mawhorter, General Electric Co.’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Lawrence Peter Mawhorter, and Americana singer/songwriter Daniel Mawhorter.
The Mawhorters have made a lasting impact on both Germany and America, with their perseverance, hard work and long lasting traditions. They can take great pride in their long and distinguished family history.
Order DNA origin analysisMawhorter: Where does the name Mawhorter come from?
The Mawhorter surname is still quite common today, especially in the Southeastern United States. Specifically, most people with the surname Mawhorter are spread among Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. This surname appears to have a variety of spellings and pronunciations, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact origin or meaning of the name.
There are numerous historical records of people bearing the name Mawhorter dating back to the 1700s in Pennsylvania. During this time, many Mawhorters settled in Lancaster County, and the name is still quite prevalent in this area today. Records indicate they may have had their own school during the late 1700s, and several members of the family served in the Revolutionary War.
The name continued to expand and spread across the US, and many Mawhorters found their way to California during the Gold Rush in the 19th century. Most Mawhorters still living in the US are descended from John Mawhorter, a farmer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1763.
Mawhorters were often skilled tradesmen, and today many who bear the name are craftspeople. The Mawhorter name is still commonly found in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. It has also spread to other parts of the US, including the Midwest, South, and West.
Variations of the surname Mawhorter
Mawhorter is a surname with many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Variants include Mohorter, Mohrter, Mohorter, Moharter, Moherter, Mowhorter, Muhorte, and many other combinations of these letters. Airways of the same origin include Maurer, Mauro, Mohr, Meurer, and Mohrer.
Most spellings of Mawhorter are of German origin, while the other surnames are mainly of Latin origin. The Latin origin surnames are derivatives of the word maurea which means Moorish or dark-skinned man. This suggests that some ancestors of those who bear the Mawhorter spelling and surnames may have been of Moorish or African descent.
The spelling of the surname Mawhorter may also be a result of the immigration of early German settlers to the United States of America, where the enunciation of German names can be difficult for English speakers. It is also speculated that it may be a result of Maurer and Meurer, borrowings from surrounding cultures.
Mawhorter is a common surname found throughout the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio. Records in the United States show that Mawhorter has been used commonly since at least the Civil War, indicating a long history of the surname in the United States.
Famous people with the name Mawhorter
- Spencer Mawhorter: American football player, played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers, and the St. Louis Rams
- Willard Mawhorter: American Major League Baseball pitcher
- William Christopher Mawhorter: American World War I veteran who wrote "Over There," which became an iconic World War I song
- Harry B. Mawhorter: American entrepreneur who founded the automobile brand Buick
- Ashley Mawhorter: American actress best known for starring in the sitcom Growing Pains
- James Mawhorter: American tennis player who competed in the US Open in 1901 and 1902
- Joseph H. Mawhorter: American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Ohio
- Charles F. Mawhorter: American civil engineer and mechanical engineer who designed and constructed some of Pennsylvania's first railroad lines
- Henry M. Mawhorter: American convict, sent to prison for embezzlement in 1838
- Daniel S. Mawhorter: American pioneering steamboat mechanic who served in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War