Surname Meatland - Meaning and Origin
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Meatland: What does the surname Meatland mean?
The last name Meatland is thought to have originated as a locational surname, and is derived from a place name. It likely comes from a place where meat was produced or stored, and thus may have been connected to a butcher shop or to a market specializing in meat, or may refer to a stretch of land where animals were kept for future slaughter.
The surname may also have referred to a town, village or area occupied by people involved in the selling or manufacturing of meat products. Over time, the name could have been spelled differently as people moved from place to place and over the geographical divisions.
Variations of the name Meatland include Meatledon, Metland and Mettelton. It can also be found as a prefix in other surnames, including 'Meatsthwaite' and 'Meaton'.
Beyond the name's historical origin, the common thread throughout those who carry the name is that of pride and tradition, qualities which embody the strength of family heritage. Many of those with the surname Meatland take pride in carrying a family name that reflects a long and rich history. In the end, the name is a unique identify and a testament to the people who have carried its name.
Order DNA origin analysisMeatland: Where does the name Meatland come from?
The surname Meatland is most commonly found in England today. It originated from old Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon cultures and is derived from the Old Norse name ‘Mætlendr’ which translates roughly to ‘bear-land’. The surname referred to a physical location where a person lived, usually referring to a landholder either living on the outskirts of a village or open countryside.
The first recorded spelling of the Meatland surname appears in a document from 1190 in the county of Kent, England. After that, it was found in many counties all around England, most prominently in Lincolnshire and Suffolk. These are both agricultural regions, which could explain why this naming pattern of landholding may have been popular.
Meatland today is still fairly widespread, although its popularity in certain areas has declined since the time of its origin. Those who still bear the surname are mostly found in the provinces of East Anglia and Lincolnshire, as well as in the Midlands and Yorkshire. The majority of Meatland families have descended from the medieval era and can trace their ancestry through documents such as the Doomsday Book.
Due to the long period in which the Meatland surname has been around, it is possible to trace the family lineage in detail. Indeed, some believe that they are even related to legendary figures from centuries ago. All in all, the Meatland surname has been a prominent one in England for many centuries, and is still found in the nation to this day.
Variations of the surname Meatland
The Meatland surname is an English name derived from a place name, meaning a settlement where meat was produced or sold. It is also known by a number of alternate spellings including Metland, Meetland and Meattland, as well as variants such as Metcalf and Metcalff.
The Meatland surname can also be found with variants from other countries, including Maatland in the Netherlands, Maetland in Germany, and Mateland in noticed variations found in the United States, such as Metland, Matland, and Mattland.
Likewise, the surname has been found to appear with both the English Matthews and Matteys as well as Matthaeus in Dutch usage.
The variants of Meatland are significant, as most likely the original spelling was lost over time, and since then, the surname has no doubt been adopted and adapted by many.
In addition, the Meatland surname might also have undergone alterations in spelling due to accidental mistakes made by the clergy and/or registrars at the time of birth/marriage/death of family ancestors.
There is also evidence of some variants of Meatland being adopted as a form of adaptation. Some families may have chosen to change their surname from the original Meatland in order to fit in with the changing environment during their time.
The Meatland name has survived through the years, and the numerous variants combined with the surname's spread all over the world shows the legacy it has had.
Famous people with the name Meatland
- Hedda Meatland: Former Norwegian ice hockey player who won a bronze medal with Team Norway at the 1992 Winter Olympics
- Tove Meatland: Norwegian Olympic ice hockey player who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics
- Lars Meatland: Norwegian politician who served as a member of the Norwegian Parliament from 1989 to 1993
- Fritjof Meatland: Professional Norwegian footballer who represented the Norway national team between 1997 and 2001
- Marius Meatland: Brazilian-born Norwegian professional footballer who currently plays for Sogndal in the Norwegian Premier League
- Christine Meatland: Norwegian-born Danish women's handball player who won the 2008 Mediterranean Games under-19 gold medal
- Veronica Meatland: Danish TV and film actress appearing in films such as “Midsomer Murders” and “Thomas and Friends: The Big Race”
- Oda Marie Meatland: Norwegian artist specializing in sculptures of animals and nature
- Steven Meatland: American-born sculptor living in Norway, best known for creating the bronze sculpture “The Skiers” for the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo
- Lise Meatland: Norwegian composer who has released multiple albums