Surname Meesters - Meaning and Origin

Meesters: What does the surname Meesters mean?

The surname Meesters is a Dutch occupational surname, deriving from the Dutch word ‘meester’, meaning ‘master’ or ‘teacher’. It’s believed that the name was originally borne by someone of the rank of a teacher or schoolmaster of some sort, hence the name’s origin.

The meaning of the name has been propagated and passed down through the generations, and although in modern day contexts the term ‘Meester’ can also be used to indicate rank or career status in a variety of professions (for example in doctors it translates to ‘expert’ or ‘consultant’, and in the military it refers to a whole different level of responsibility and stature), it is a testament to the enduring meaning of the name that it has remained so steadfastly associated with the title of ‘teacher’.

The surname is also quite popular, not just in the Netherlands, but also in other Flemish speaking countries such as Belgium and Luxembourg. Meesters is not only a surname, but examples of the surname can be found as place names too. For example, a few places in the Netherlands have adopted variations of Meesters as their name, such as the town Meester Cornelis in the commune of Drimmelen in the North Brabant province.

In summary, the surname Meesters is an occupational surname of Dutch origin, deriving from the Dutch word ‘meester’, meaning ‘teacher’. Although the term can now be used to refer to a variety of professionals, the name Meesters has remained consistently associated with the title of ‘teacher’ or ‘schoolmaster’. It is a well-used name not only in the Netherlands, but also in neighbouring countries, and the surname can be found in place names too.

Meesters: Where does the name Meesters come from?

The last name Meesters is a Dutch surname meaning "master". It is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, and is fairly rare in other parts of the world.

In the Netherlands, an estimated 190,000 people have the last name Meesters. However, because of the relatively low population of the Netherlands, it is not a particularly common last name. It is found most commonly in the western region of the Netherlands, making up the largest concentration of Meesters in the country.

Due to its Dutch origins, some people with the last name Meesters have spread to other countries across the world. The Netherlands has historically had large-scale emigration, and some of these Dutch families have brought their last name to other countries. The most common places to find Dutch immigrants and their descendants with the last name Meesters are in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia.

Given the numerous migrations throughout history, it is possible for people with the last name Meesters to be found in other parts of the world, too. However, they are much less common in other parts of the world as compared to the Netherlands.

Variations of the surname Meesters

The surname Meesters is of Dutch and German origin.

The original spelling of the name is Masters and it was derived from the medieval occupational term for a master craftsman or tradesman. From this evolved the Dutch forms Meesters, Maesters, and Maister. The German spelling is Meister, Meistere and Meistermann.

Variant spellings and surnames derived from Meesters can be found in many countries. In the Netherlands the variation can be Meesters, Maisters, Maesters, Mestere, Mester, Mestern, Meister and Maistert. In the German speaking countries it can be Meisstere, Meistermann, Meisterhans, Meistershans and Meisterhahn.

In the United States the surname may be found as Maestas, Mestas, Mestes, Masters, Maestes, Meister, Meistes and Meistert. In France it can be spelled Prophete, Prophète, Maistre, Maître, Montmaître and des Maistres.

Other spellings of Meesters can be found in various other countries. These include Maister, Maistre, and Maistert in Scotland, Maistri, Maistrello, Maestrelli and Maistro in Italy, Meistari and Meistar in Estonia, and Maistre and Meistron in Wales. In Scandinavia it is Mestere, Meistari, Meistarila and Mestari.

In Russia and Eastern Europe the surname is Mesterev, Mastrzhik, Maister, and Meisterchik. In South Africa and Namibia the surname is found as Meisters, Maestsr, and Maistro.

Despite all of these variances, they are all derived from the same original source; the medieval Occupational term of a master craftsman or tradesman.

Famous people with the name Meesters

• Chuck Meesters — Dutch actor and singer.
• Marijke Meesters — Dutch astrophysicist and professor of astrophysics at the University of Utrecht.
• Arie Meesters — Dutch cyclist who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
• Bob Meesters — Dutch professional footballer.
• Jasper Meesters — Dutch footballer and manager of the MVV Maastricht football club.
• Bob Meesters — Dutch professional ice hockey player.
• Damian Meesters — Dutch costume designer.
• Bartel Meesters — Dutch illustrator specializing in Dutch Golden Age painting techniques.
• Willem Meesters — Dutch landscape painter active in the late 18th century.
• Wilhelmina Meesters — Dutch painter best known for creating still lifes, landscapes, and portraits.
• Abraham Meesters — Dutch World War II resistance fighter and after the war mayor of Assen.
• Joost Meesters — Dutch DJ and music producer.

Other surnames

Meester