Surname Meater - Meaning and Origin

Meater: What does the surname Meater mean?

The last name Meater has several possible origins. It may have been derived from the Middle English word "mete," meaning "food," or the Old German word "mahtre," meaning "servant." It may also have been a shortened version of names such as "Maesater" or "Meastresse," melding the words meaning "master" or "mistress" into one.

In some cases, the name may have been acquired as a nickname or tradesname for someone who worked in the meat trade. Alternatively, the name may simply reflect a fondness for an abundance of food, or even a particular delicacy.

Meater is not a common surname, yet it is found across England, Europe and North America. The name is especially concentrated in the US state of Pennsylvania which may suggest that there was some early migration associated with the adoption of the name.

In the modern day, the name Meater is an interesting reflection of ancestry or a person’s connection to the food industry. It’s a unique surname that carries a certain charm with it and may reflect your enjoyable relationship with the food you eat.

Meater: Where does the name Meater come from?

The last name Meater is most prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly in England. It is thought to have derived from the Middle English word, mete, which means "meat." It is sometimes also spelt with an alternate spelling of "Meeter."

Meater is a relatively unusual name, so its concentration is limited. It is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire, Durham, Lancashire, Norfolk and Suffolk. However, it also appears to a lesser extent in other counties such as Cheshire, Oxfordshire and Derbyshire.

A comprehensive survey from 1881 of population records showed 479 occurrences of the name, comprising 1 in approximately 44,345 people. Given the natural population increase since this survey, there is likely to be a larger number of people with the name Meater today.

Meater is presently found throughout the UK, particularly in England, where it remains a distinctive and rare name. It is also very common in some parts of Canada and the United States, although in these regions the name may be spelt differently.

Variations of the surname Meater

The surname Meater has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the name include Meatier, Metier, Metteer, Metteur, Mateer, and Meter.

Each of these variants of Meater have the same etymology, deriving from the Middle French "metier" meaning "trade." This suggests that the family name may have originally referred to a person or persons who had a trade or job, such as a metalworker, for whom tools such as meaters were important.

The Meter spelling is the most likely spelling to have originated in the United States among French-Canadian immigrants. It is quite common in Quebec amongst the French-Canadian population.

In addition to these variants, there are other spellings of the same surname that are found globally, including Metayer, Metten, Mettner, Mette, Mettler, Meter, Mettey, and Mettle.

Meater is a unique surname, but it is related to other similar sounding surnames that are common in other parts of the world. Some examples of related surnames include Meester and Meterla, both of which come from Dutch origins.

In Germany a similar-sounding surname is Maetel, which reportedly derived from one who worked in a mill or bakery. Finally, there is a surname Mäter, which is also found in both Germany and Austria. This name also has likely the same roots, referring to a worker in a specific trade.

In conclusion, the surname Meater has several variants and similar surnames of the same origin. All of these variations share the same etymology, suggesting they referred to individuals who had a trade or job.

Famous people with the name Meater

• Cynthia Meater, a Canadian broadcaster and television personality
• Eric Meaters, an American singer and songwriter
• Douglas Meater, a former Jamaican politician
• Dan Meater, an English football manager
• Charles Meater, an Australian sculptor
• Louise Meater, a British actress
• Louise Meater-Davis, a famed British artist
• Jacob Meater, a Dutch karate instructor
• Amy Meater, an American voice actress
• Forrest Meater, an American playwright
• Adam Meater, an English YouTuber, Radio DJ and freelance broadcaster
• David Meater, an American actor
• Max Meater, an English drummer and songwriter
• Jeff Meater, an American actor and producer
• Stephen Meater, a Scottish curator and writer
• Kevin Meater, a Turkish-born Hungarian sculptor
• Sean Meater, a British boxing trainer
• John Meater, a Canadian poet
• Monica Meater, a Spanish grayhound racing commentator
• Cara Meater, a Welsh illustrator and graphic designer

Other surnames

MeateMeatenMeates