Surname Meermann - Meaning and Origin
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Meermann: What does the surname Meermann mean?
The last name Meermann is of German origin and is a German-Jewish surname. It is derived from the German word "märmann," which means merchant. It can also be interpreted as "merchantman," or one who is engaged in the trading of merchandise.
Historically, many people bearing this last name worked in the banking and trade industry. They are believed to have primarily been middle class city dwellers as they needed to stay near their business centers in order to buy and sell goods. This last name is sometimes used in combination with other surnames as one way to distinguish members of different branches of a family.
Meermann can also refer to people from Meermann, a small town near Hanover, Germany. This town has an industrial and agricultural economy, producing silage and other animal feed, as well as confectionery and brickwork.
The surname Meermann is not especially common even in the areas of Europe where German is spoken, however it is growing in popularity in other parts of the world. By understanding its origin and how it is used, people with the surname Meermann can connect to their German heritage while simultaneously learning about the history of those whose ancestors bore this name.
Order DNA origin analysisMeermann: Where does the name Meermann come from?
Meermann is a German surname, derived from the words "mère" and "meer", which mean "mother" and "sea" respectively. It is most common in Germany, and can also be found in substantial numbers in Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark. In the United States, the surname Meermann is relatively rare, but there are small pockets where it is seen more often.
In Germany, the Meermann surname is most commonly seen in the northern part of the country – particularly around Berlin and Hamburg. In Sweden, the name is mainly found in the southernmost region of Skåne County. In the US, the highest concentrations of people with the Meermann surname can be found in Texas, Colorado, and other western states.
Out of the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the surname is most common in Canada, which is home to more than two thousand people with the Meermann name. It is least common in New Zealand.
The Meermann surname is also seen in Israel, where the variation Mirman is found. A small number of people with the Meermann surname can also be seen in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, reflecting the large groups of German immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variations of the surname Meermann
The surname Meermann is a patronymic German surname derived from the personal name Maier or Meyer which translates as ‘mayor’, or ‘servant of Mary’. The variants of this surname in other languages include Meerman, Mermann, Meermans, Mermons, Mermans and Mairman.
In the Netherlands, the spelling was largely adapted to Meermann and this is now a very common surname in the country. However, there are other variants such as Meeuwissen and Meeuwesen which are derived from Germanic roots. The Italian, Spanish and French versions, which reflect the pronunciation of this surname, are spelled Meirmann, Meirman and Meirman respectively.
Other variants of the Meermann surname can be found in England. In this context, the surname is variously spelled Merman, Merman, Meichen and Meychen. Some Anglicised versions of this surname include Mareman, Mayerman, Mirman, Myron and Maierman. Over time, some of these variants have assumed an entirely new form, including Richmond, Meir, Mean, Meerd and Meridan.
In addition to these main variants of the Meermann surname, there are multiple other permutations and spellings which can be found across other countries and languages. Examples of these include Meyrmann in Germany, Mariamann in Hungary, Meremans in Flanders, Mirmanowicz in Poland and Meryman in Armenia.
Famous people with the name Meermann
- Peter Meermann: German actor who started his career in 1977 after completing a drama course. Was part of the Berlin State Theatre for more than two decades.
- Kurt Meermann: German politician, member of the Christian Democratic Union, and former Secretary of State in the ministry of the environment.
- Dennis Meermann: German stage actor who has done several performances for the Berliner Ensemble, one of the oldest and most important theatres in Germany.
- Trudi Meermann Berg: German tennis player who won multiple medals for Germany in the European Senior Tennis Championship.
- Werner Meermann: German football player in the 50s. Played for Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum.
- Rosemarie Meermann: German soprano and opera singer who has appeared in venues like Berlin Staatsoper, Salzburg Festival, and Berlin Philharmonie.
- Elisabeth Meermann: German art historian and professor.
- Constanze Meermann: German author who published her first novel “Der Tag an dem wir das Meer versetzten” in 2002.
- Rolf Meermann: German actor and voice dub actor who appeared in movies such as “Die Welle” and “Berlin Calling.”
- Arnold Meermann: German lawyer who was an advocate for the labor movement and its rights.