Surname Meaker - Meaning and Origin

Meaker: What does the surname Meaker mean?

The surname Meaker is of English origin, and is believed to be a transferred use of an archaic word of unknown meaning. It may have been derived from the Old English word “meac,” which was a dialectal word meaning “damp” and “wet,” and is believed to refer to a person who lived beside a marsh or other wet area. Alternatively, the surname may be derived from a location name, signifying a person who lived by a meada, which is an Old English word for a region of wet, marshy land.

It is thought that the surname Meaker is a corruption of the English placename Makerfield, which is derived from the Old English personal name Maecca, combined with the word feld, meaning “open land,” thus implying a meadow or open field that belonged to Maecca.

The surname is first recorded in the mid-13th century, appearing in the rolls and documents of the county of Hampshire in the south of England. The first recorded spelling of the surname was in 1290, as Adam de Makerfelde. Variants of the name include Meakes, Meake, Meedo, Maker and Macer.

Through its enigmatic origins, the surname Meaker is a reminder of the distant past, a connection to a time of mystery and legends now lost in the mists of time.

Meaker: Where does the name Meaker come from?

The last name Meaker is most commonly found today in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau's2020 population estimates suggests that there are over 5,500 people in the U.S. bearing this surname, with the majority of those living in California, Texas, and Florida.

In the United Kingdom, the last name is most commonly found concentrated in the south, especially the cities of London and Brighton. There were over 6,000 people in the U.K. bearing this surname as of the 2011 census.

In Canada, the last name shows up predominantly in Ontario and British Colombia. There were over 1,000 people bearing this surname in the 2016 Canadian census.

Meaker is an uncommon last name, as evidenced by the relatively low number of individuals with the surname in all three countries. It likely was an occupational name based upon the Middle English "mekere," meaning miller or maker of meal. The name is assumed to refer to someone who practiced grain farming. The name also likely stems from maken, a Middle English verb meaning to build or make. It is thought to refer to someone who worked in the building trades.

Variations of the surname Meaker

The surname Meaker is derived from the Old English "meca" which means either "a maker" or "the maker." It is believed to refer to one who crafted items such as furniture or metalwork. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Maykar, Maekar, Maeker, Makeer, Meacher, Meakar, Meekar, Meker, Meager, Meggar, Meecker, and Mieger.

Given the surname's history, many who took on this surname may have been involved in trades such as furniture making, metalworking, tailoring, and more. As such, there could also be variations on the spelling or longer names such as Meckered, Maeckered, Makered, and Meadred. This could also be in reference to residence or titles such as Makare of Makas or the Meager of Meagers.

In some cases, the name may have been adopted or spelled differently if immigrant ancestors moved to different countries. As a result, there are many foreign spellings to note, such as Mackeer, Mackeyer, Maicke, Mekk, Macker, Maicher, Mackher, Meghr, and more.

Finally, the surnames could have also developed from other variant spellings that could have been derived from the Old English, such as Mace, Maker, Makar, and Macer, as well as from other languages. For example, the surname Mecer could be derived from the Czech language.

Famous people with the name Meaker

• Richie Meaker: actor, writer, and comedy producer.
• Rachel Meaker: British model, actress, and singer.
• Syd Meaker: professional cyclist.
• Ann Meaker: published author and nutritionist.
• Winston Meaker: former NFL defensive back.
• Thomas Meaker: retired professional hockey player.
• Jeannie Meaker: renowned country-western singer.
• George Meaker: renowned painter and muralist.
• Fred Meaker: former NBA player.
• Bret Meaker: professional cyclist.
• D. Meaker: game developer.
• Joseph Meaker: stage and screen actor.
• Kay Meaker: television producer.
• Roy Meaker: former pitcher in Major League Baseball.
• Willie Meaker: football coach.
• Luke Meaker: professional lacrosse player.
• Blake Meaker: professional skateboarder.
• Jean Meaker: poet and writer.
• Stephen Meaker: artist, sculptor, and environmentalist.
• Ben Meaker: Nigerian television producer.

Other surnames

Meakes