Surname Meierling - Meaning and Origin
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Meierling: What does the surname Meierling mean?
The last name Meierling is derived from an occupational name, referring to an individual who was either a Mayor or an important community leader, generally of German or Dutch origin.
The origin of the name is most commonly tied to an old German word, "Marx", used to refer to a Leading Nobleman, or a person who held some sort of position of authority. The root of this word ties it to a branch of the medieval feudal system of government, with a Meier acting as a representative of the ruler, in charge of a specific portion of land.
The root word also has a Dutch origin, in which "Meier" is the common spelling. This does not vary much from the German version, and serves the same purpose. In Dutch, the word translates to "a person in charge of a certain village", and could either refer to a manager of sorts or a higher-ranking court official.
The original spelling of the name is "Meierling". This spelling appears most often in any records of German or Dutch origin, meaning the family likely immigrated from the area in which the name originated, and the spelling was kept intact. It is also possible that the original spelling has evolved over time and is still in use today.
Either way, the last name Meierling is most likely derived from an occupational name meant to indicate leadership or authority, and the spelling could have been subtly altered over time to fit the language of whichever area the family immigrated to.
Order DNA origin analysisMeierling: Where does the name Meierling come from?
The last name Meierling is most common today in Germany, although it has spread to other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is among the 1000 most common surnames in Germany and is spelled many different ways, such as Meierling, Meyering, Mairling, and Mayrling.
The name is derived from the Medieval German personal name Meier, meaning mayor, and thus originally denoted a mayor or someone who held an administrative position in a town. The name is found in records from the 12th century onward. Its first bearer was noted to be a Hermann Meyering in a document from 1318 in Ritterhude near Bremen.
As far as current distributions, the surname is most common in Germany, where over 35,800 people bear the surname in the present day. It is also found in Austria, with over 500 individuals. The U.S. is home to approximately 3,000 individuals with the last name Meierling. This is in addition to smaller occurrences of Meierling in Poland, Switzerland, Argentina, and Finland.
The name is in steady to modestly declining in terms of popularity, but those that bear it can feel a sense of pride knowing their last name has been part of German and European culture for centuries.
Variations of the surname Meierling
The surname Meierling is thought to have originated in Germany and is of Germanic origin. It is believed that the name derives from the Old German words ‘meier’ which refers to a steward or bailiff, and ‘ling’ which means small. Together these two words form a name for a person who was in charge of an estate or property, or a mayor of a community.
The variants of the surname Meierling include: Meiring, Meyerling, Maierling, Mairling, Mayerling, Majerling and Meyering.
The spelling of the surname Meierling varies between countries and regions. For example, Germany is known for dropping the ‘e’ in place of an ‘a’. As a result, the spelling may change from Meierling to Maierling. In some cases, the ‘er’ may be replaced with ‘erling’ in the spelling (Meyering).
The surnames that are considered as related to the Meierling name can be found both in Germany and other countries across the world. These surnames include: Meyer, Maier, Mayer, Major, Mayr, Merling, and Marling (Mueller).
Overall, Meierling is an old surname that has multiple variants, spellings and related surnames. Whether you are of German, Dutch, Swiss or other European descent, there are many possibilities when it comes to finding the origin and variants of this surname.
Famous people with the name Meierling
- Joshua Meierling: American actor, best known for his roles in shows such as Shameless and Pretty Little Liars
- Frank Meierling: German football player who has played for club sides like Hertha Berlin and FC Cologne
- Johannes Meierling: German astronomer and chancellor of the University of Jena from 1824 to 1826
- Alexander Meierling: German film producer, best known for his work on films such as Bad Manners and Phoenix
- Adolf Meierling: German painter, best known for his paintings of the Rhine area from the late 19th century
- Berthold Emil Meierling: German sculptor who is best known for his colossal bronze monuments
- Emilio Meierling: Mexican musician, best known for his compositions for films and commercials
- Erich Meierling: German geologist, who worked as an assistant to Nobel Prize-winner Alfred Wegener
- Karl Meierling: Swiss composer and teacher, known for his choral works and lieder composed in a Romantic style
- Kurt Meierling: German architect, best known for his prolific work designing churches throughout Europe