Surname Meierheinrich - Meaning and Origin
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Meierheinrich: What does the surname Meierheinrich mean?
The last name Meierheinrich is composed of two elements, "Meier" and "Heinrich". The surname is of German origin and is derived from "Meier," which was originally an occupational name for someone who was a steward of property owned by a higher authority. The second part "Heinrich" is a given name which is derived from an old Germanic word meaning "home-ruler" or "power-holder".
The combination of these two elements implies that the original bearer of the last name Meierheinrich was someone who was responsible for overseeing the holdings of a powerful noble or governing body. For example, the title of Meier heinrich was very common among medieval German nobles, who would appoint someone to be a steward and manage their extensive lands and holdings.
The title of Meier heinrich and the last name Meierheinrich also hints at the faith traditionally held by the German people. As stewards of a higher authority, be it a government or other form of rulership, the bearer of the last name Meierheinrich was expected to uphold the faith and values of the ruling entity to which they were beholden.
In conclusion, the last name Meierheinrich is derived from a combination of Germanic words for a steward of a higher power and a given name which implies a possession of power and responsibility. As such, it implies that the original bearers of the title of Meier heinrich and the last name Meierheinrich were expected to perform their duties with loyalty to their superiors and according to the faith and values of the ruling body.
Order DNA origin analysisMeierheinrich: Where does the name Meierheinrich come from?
Meierheinrich is a German surname derived from the given name Meinhard. It is composed of two elements, meier, which is an occupational name meaning "Farmer," and heinrich referring to a German form of Henry. The surname is most commonly found in southwestern Germany and Bavaria, northern and eastern Austria, and some parts of the Czech Republic and Hungary. In modern times, it is also found in areas of America where German immigrants settled, particularly in Pennsylvania.
In the United States, the variant spellings Meyerheinrich and Meyersheinrich appear to be used more often than Meierheinrich. This surname is also found in Canada with German immigrants who likely emigrated from western Europe in the mid 1800s.
Immigration records show that between the years 1950 and 1975, large numbers of European migrants arrived in the US and Canada and this could have increased the presence of this surname in North America. Families of Meierheinrich origin have since spread out, making the exact geographical distribution much harder to trace.
In Germany, the combined total of all variants of the name (Meierheinrich, Meyerheinrich, Meiersheinrich, etc.) ranks as the 250th most common surname. In the United States,the variants Meyersheinrich and Meyerheinrich are ranked at 28,481st and 28,463rd respectively.
Overall, Meierheinrich is found more commonly in Europe and includes parts of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary. In the United States, families of Meierheinrich origin are spread out across much of the country.
Variations of the surname Meierheinrich
Meierheinrich is a compound surname, which is formed by combining the German words ‘Meier’ meaning ‘squire’ and ‘Heinrich’ which is a Germanized version of the French name Henry. This surname is usually spelled Meierheinrich, but there are several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin such as Meierhänckel, Meirhänckel, Meierhänke, Meirhänke, Maierheinrich, Mayerheinrich, Maierhänckel, Meyerheinrich, Mayerhänckel, Meyerhänke, Meyhänke, Meyerhänckel, Mährich, Mahric, Maier, Mayer, Meir, Maire, Meyere, Mahrer, Meyhahn, Mehring, and Merring.
The variant spellings of the name’s component words suggest that the original surname had French roots. The name was likely created by adding the German ‘Meier’ to the more French-sounding ‘Heinrich’. Over time, these variants took on their own unique spellings and pronunciations, creating a variety of distinct surnames with the same origin.
In Germany, Meierheinrich is the most common spelling of the name. Other German variants like Meierhänckel, Meirhänke, and Mayerheinrich are also found. Outside of Germany, however, many of the variants are more common. In the United States, for example, variants like Meir, Maire, and Merring are more common than Meierheinrich.
No matter which variant or spellings is used, they are all derived from the same origin and they all carry the same meaning. This makes it easy to trace your family’s history and find out if any ancestors shared this common surname.
Famous people with the name Meierheinrich
- Brigitte Meierheinrich: German politician. She was a member of the SPD and the Minister of Education, Science, Youth and Professional Training of Hessian State Government from 2018 to 2020.
- Hermann Meierheinrich: German successful businessman, real estate enterprise manager, and philanthropist. He was active in the public life and social welfare of his local town of Rothenburg where he set up a senior citizens centre.
- Konrad Hans Meierheinrich: German church organist and composer. He composed various pieces, such as chorale settings, motets, cantatas and songs, which were known and admired in his time.
- Eduard Meierheinrich: German track and field athlete and long-distance runner. He set several national records in long-distance running events and became the German Champion in 10.000 m in 1962.
- Carl Maximilian Meierheinrich: Austrian theatre director, producer, and actor. He was the founder and first director of the Tiroler Landestheater, now known as "Theatre Tyrol" in Innsbruck.
- Charles Ignatius Meierheinrich: English actor. He had big success in London performances during the mid-19th century.
- Wilhelm Meierheinrich: German author and painter. His works as an author focused on the description of travel, nature and science, which he published several books about.
- Max Meierheinrich: German actor and director. He worked in film and TV productions from the early 1950s and was active in the German TV and Film Academy for many years.
- Franz Meierheinrich: German athlete and Olympic Gold Medal winner. He won the Gold medal with his team in the Shooting Men's Team Free Rifle event at the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics.