Surname Mayländer - Meaning and Origin

Mayländer: What does the surname Mayländer mean?

Mayländer is a German surname derived from "Meilender" or "Meiland", which were topographic terms used to describe people who lived in areas with heaths, moorlands, and moors. In Germany, these people were called "Heidebauern". The term "May" most likely comes from the German word "Maid" which means a maiden or a young woman. Mayländer is believed to be derived from the German word "meilen", meaning to cover a large area or stretch of land.

The Mayländer surname is also associated with people living in the area of Gotha and Thüringen, which is located in the central region of Germany. This area was known for its rolling hills and meadows, which could have been scenic and attractive to settlers. The surname Mayländer thus could have been taken by people of migrating to this area.

The Mayländer surname is associated with some historical figures, such as German jurist pedagogue August Maylander and German politician Albert Maylander.

In modern times, the Mayländer surname is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in other European countries, as well as overseas, due to immigration. People with this surname could have descendants living in diverse countries around the world, making them representatives of a multi-cultural family.

Mayländer: Where does the name Mayländer come from?

The surname Mayländer is most commonly found today in Germany, where most of its bearers reside. The surname is a German variant of the original French name Mallender, which is also found in England. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word maelle, meaning “distaff.”

The name is most prevalent in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also widely distributed throughout Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. While the instances of Mayländer have decreased slightly over time, it still ranks among the top 500 last names in Germany.

In the United States, Mayländer traces its origin to German immigrants who settled in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. The last name is more common in the eastern part of the country, with particularly high concentrations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio.

In Canada, the last name is also mainly found in the eastern provinces, due to a large influx of German-speaking settlers in the late 19th century. Additionally, Mayländer can be found in Australia, where the name was brought in by German migrants who worked in trades and businesses such as brewing.

Those with the surname Mayländer can be traced to a variety of professions thanks to the migratory history of the name. From distaff weavers to brewers and even press owners, those with the surname have a long and varied family history.

Variations of the surname Mayländer

The surname Mayländer has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants in the German speaking world are Maylander and Mailänder. Together, the variants share a shared etymology, derived from the Germanic personal name Magin/Maginhard, which is composed of the elements magin, meaning ‘might’, and hard, meaning ‘strong’ or ‘hardy’.

In other languages, variants of the surname include Mailender (English), Maialander (Italian), Maylaender (Dutch), Maylender (Spanish), Mayländer (French), Maleander (Welsh), and Maleanttär (Finnish). Similarly, variants of the spelling include Mailander, Mäiländer, Maialander, Maillander, etc.

Kinsfolk of those with the Mayländer surname may also be found under the surnames Maleanttär (Finnish variant) or Malandar (Hebrew variant).

In terms of etymology, the surname is derived from the Germanic personal name Magin/Maginhard, which contains the elements magin, meaning ‘might’, and hard, meaning ‘strong’ or ‘hardy’. This compound name is found in the Frankish forms Magilinard and Maginhar in the 8th century, suggesting a common Germanic origin. It has been suggested that, due to the common elements found in these names, variants of the surname Mailänder may be found in the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the British Isles.

As such, the surname Mayländer has a wide range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, many of which are found in numerous countries across Europe and beyond.

Famous people with the name Mayländer

• Paul Mayländer: a German professional hockey player.
• Amelie Mayländer: a German actress best known for her role as Sylvia in the 2004 film “Der Untergang”.
• Lothar Mayländer: a German economist and government minister.
• Jan Mayländer: a German lawyer and politician.
• Beverley Mayländer: an English actress who presented the children's television show “The Really Wild Show”.
• Petra Mayländer: a German mountaineer who climbed the 14 “eight-thousanders”.
• Wilhelm Mayländer: a German physicist who developed the “Mayländer Theory of Relativity”.
• Carl Mayländer: a German-American geneticist who developed the “Mayländer strands”.
• Wilhelmina Mayländer: an Austrian opera singer who sang leading roles in major theatres across Europe.
• Peter Mayländer: an Austrian conductor and composer who is best known for his operettas.

Other surnames

Maylandt