Surname Meibes - Meaning and Origin
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Meibes: What does the surname Meibes mean?
Meibes is a surname of Germanic origin. The name is derived from the old Germanic personal name "Mageb" which was derived from the Latin word "magnus" meaning "great". This personal name may have originally been applied to someone who was known for their great strength or power.
The name is thought to first have appeared in Middle High German documents in the form "Meibis" and its use likely spread throughout Central Europe during the Middle Ages as people relocated or migrated. The modern spelling of the name likely first appeared during the 18th century when languages began to standardize and many spelling changes occurred.
However, the spelling of the Meibes name still remains in many variants to this day. These include Mybez, Meubese, Meibspe, Meibe, Meibeghs, Meibes and Meubes.
The name is now found throughout Europe as well as in parts of North and South America.
The surname Meibes does not have a single specific meaning, however it is thought to be derived from the old Germanic personal name Mageb, meaning ‘great’. It is likely that those with the surname today carry a legacy of a strong and powerful ancestor, who had a lasting impact on those around him.
Order DNA origin analysisMeibes: Where does the name Meibes come from?
The last name Meibes is common in certain parts of Germany. It is especially common in northern Germany, specifically in Baden-Württemberg, former East Prussia (Lithuania and Poland now), and the state of Brandenburg. It is also found in the Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Thuringia.
Meibes was originally a personal name derived from the Old German meaning “one from Meibe” or “one from somewhere in Meibe”. This area was located on the east side of the lower Rhine in the current countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The Meibes name is also present in North America, especially in the United States, where a number of settlers with this last name immigrated in the 19th century. They were mostly found in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan.
In Europe, the name Meibes is typically spelled as “Meibes”, but in North America it is sometimes spelled as “Meibe”, or the variant “Meibes”.
Today, in modern society, the Meibes are found in communities all over the globe where their descendents have spread. Across many countries, the Meibes name can be heard in family gatherings, around street corners, and in homes as a proud reminder of a strong heritage that has withstood the test of time.
Variations of the surname Meibes
Meibes is a German surname that can trace its origin to the old German words ‘meip’ and ‘besche’ which mean 'handsome-less'. As the surname spread, it developed into various spellings, including: Meipes, Meipen, Meybes, Meybens, Miebes, Miebens, and Meybess. The variants of the surname include the double-barreled surnames Meibes-Beckmann, Meipen-Lipps, and Miebes-Maier.
The variants of Meibes can also be found in countries such as the United States, England, and Canada. In the US, the surname is most commonly spelled Miebes or Meipen. In England, the surname is found as Meibes. In Canada, it is typically spelled Meybes. The Meibes in Canada can trace back their origin to the Mennonite immigrants who settled in the area, as the Mennonites refer to the Meibes name.
The spelling variations of Meibes reflect the diversity of the families that adopted it as a surname. Aside from Miebes, Meipen, Meibes, Meybes, Meybens, Miebens, and Meybess, it can also be found as Mybus, Meibose, and Moebus, although these spellings are much rarer.
No matter the spelling, the surname Meibes has a universal meaning, that of a humble, hardworking ancestor who crossed both physical and cultural boundaries to form a new family. It is a great honor to carry a surname with a storied past, and many families take pride in their ancestral legacy.
Famous people with the name Meibes
- Johannes Meibes: German actor and writer.
- August Meibes: German actor and director.
- Karl Meibes: German painter, designer, and sculptor.
- August Meibes junior: German actor and director, son of August Meibes.
- Maximilian Meibes: German composer and pianist.
- Hans Meibes: German watercolorist and printmaker.
- Gabriele Meibes: German playwright and screenwriter.
- Zoe Meibes: German reality television star.
- Kurt Meibes: German actor, director and producer.
- Jost Meibes: German sculptor.
- Johannes Meibes junior: German actor, grandson of Johannes Meibes.
- Lothar Meibes: German theologian, Roman Catholic Bishop of Hildesheim.
- Otto Meibes: German painter and graphic artist.
- Walther Meibes: German astronomer and astrophysicist.
- Hugo Meibes: German art historian.
- Clemens Meibes: German painter and sculptor.
- Philipp Meibes: German zoologist and entomologist.
- Axel Meibes: German composer and conductor.
- Bernhard Meibes: German art historian and art critic.
- Hermann Meibes: German writer and poet.