Surname Meiermann - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meiermann: What does the surname Meiermann mean?
The last name Meiermann is derived from the German word "Meier," meaning "farmer," and "mann," meaning "man." Together, the name suggests that its bearer was most likely a farmer or a rural laborer.
In the early days of the German language, the spelling of the Meiermann name varied greatly, from Meier to Meyerman, Maiermann, Mayerman, and Megerman.
The name is most commonly found in regions where German, Dutch and Low German dialects were historically spoken, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Germany. It is also commonly seen in the United States, particularly among immigrants of German or Dutch descent.
The name Meiermann is frequently rendered as "Mayor" in American English, a malapropism that most likely derived from the similar-sounding word “meiher" (from the Middle Low German "maier," meaning “farmer”) or "maire" (Old French for “mayor”).
Today, the name Meiermann is still common in Germany, with over 4,000 entries in Germany's telephone directories. Beyond Germany, the name is far less common, with fewer more than 200 entries combined in Austria, Switzerland and the United States, according to public records.
Order DNA origin analysisMeiermann: Where does the name Meiermann come from?
The last name Meiermann is an unusual family name, but it is most predominantly found in Germany and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe where German is spoken. As of 2020, the most concentrations of the name can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and former German territories such as Liechtenstein and Czech Republic. It is a fairly popular name around these countries, and is even found in smaller villages and towns.
Meiermann is a patronymic name, which could be derived from the given name "Meier," a shortened form of "Christian" or other names beginning in "Mei-." In centuries past, the name could have been used to denote a son of a "Meier," or someone who owned land or a farmstead as his medieval ancestors were from the social class of free peasants who worked land-owning nobles.
The name could also be derived from the Germanic language word "marah," which translates to bitter. While this derivation is disputed, it is possible the name originated from families who lived in harsh conditions, and was meant to describe their experiences.
Today, the last name Meiermann is still used around Central and Eastern Europe, where many of its original bearers lived centuries ago. It is often seen on city streets and in historical records, a reminder of the people who made the region their home.
Variations of the surname Meiermann
The surname Meiermann is a German-origin surname derived from the given name Meiersmann, which is an occupational name derived from the German word "Meier" meaning 'farmer'. This name is found in numerous variants of spelling and surname extensions, the most common of which are Mayerman, Mayermann, Mayrmann, Mallerman, Mallermon, Mayoras, Meyeras, Myers, Myrum, and Mairas.
The given name "Meier" was widely used during the Middle Ages, and its variants were adopted by many families across Europe who then formed clans with the surname Meiersmann. This name spread to regions such as Germany, Austria, France, and the Netherlands, where the word "Meier" kept its initial meaning. As a result, the surname Meiermann gradually evolved as its variants in each country.
In Germany, the surname changed to Mayermann, indicating a more educated member of society. In France, it became Mayerman or Mallerman. In the Netherlands, it was often written as Mayrmann or Mayermann. Later on, the surname also evolved into various extensions such as Mayeras, Myers, Myrum, and Mairas.
In recent centuries, the surname Meiermann has been extensively adopted in English-speaking countries as Myers, and today this name remains relatively popular across the world.
Famous people with the name Meiermann
- Günther Meiermann: A German former football forward. He was capped four times by the East German national team between 1965 and 1968.
- Wolfgang Meiermann: A retired German decathlete. He competed at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics and finished in sixth and tenth place, respectively.
- Johannes Meiermann: A German sprint canoeist who competed in the late 1950s. He won a number of medals at World Championship events.
- Irene Ziegler-Meiermann: A German conservationist and novelist. She has authored several books about her conservation projects in Germany, spanning from hunted and endangered species to the protection of traditional local architecture.
- Augustus J. Meiermann: A German-American architect who designed many churches throughout the United States. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects and went on to found the Chicago firm of Meiermann & Yessimian.
- Marius Meiermann: A German soccer player. He made his professional debut in 1921 with Eintracht Braunschweig.
- Ferdinand Meiermann: A German investment banker and consultant who worked for the Deutsche Bank. He was the Managing Director of the bank between 1914 and 1936.
- Gustav Meiermann: A German alpine skier. He won the men’s downhill event in the 1966 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships and placed 4th in the men’s slalom event in the same championships.
- Emilie Meiermann: A German photographer based in Dusseldorf. She has exhibited works around Germany in over 20 exhibitions, as well as some international ones in China, France, and Peru.
- Johann Gotthilf Meiermann: A German theologian who was Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Greifswald. He was also the author of several books on theology, including the Handbook of World History.