Surname Meik - Meaning and Origin
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Meik: What does the surname Meik mean?
The surname Meik is of Scottish and Northern Irish origin. It is derived from the English word "mik," which is an old form of the word "mackle," meaning "small." The word "mickle/mikle," in turn, is of Old Norse origin, and means "great, large, or mighty."
The name Meik is thought to have been first used in Scotland by the Clan Gunn, a loosely associated network of individuals located primarily in the North-East region. During the Middle Ages, the clan was renowned for its cattle rustling and smuggling activities along the most eastern and northern parts of Scotland. This activity provided sufficient wealth to allow some members of the clan to gain land and titles, eventually leading to dispersion and adoption of the family name across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Today, the Meik surname is still most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, especially concentrated in counties such as Ireland's County Derry and Scotland's Sutherland, Caithness, and Orkney. It is also found in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and other parts of the world, likely indicating the descendants of the Clan Gunn's migration abroad.
Order DNA origin analysisMeik: Where does the name Meik come from?
The last name Meik is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In Germany, the Meik name is most commonly found in the states of Bavaria,Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Northrhine-Westfalia, and Saarland. In Austria, the surname Meik is mainly found in the states of Styria, Lower Austria, and Vienna.
In the United States, the Meik name can be found in New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington. It is mainly populated in California and New York, which is not surprising considering the concentration of immigrants there. According to the U.S Census data, the last name Meik has an estimated 200 to 300 individuals living in the United States with this surname.
The origins of the name Meik may come from a combination of two French words. They are “meilleur” and “ecuyer”. The former meaning “better”, could refer to someone as having a higher rank or quality than their peers. The latter could signify a relationship to a noble family; or perhaps with someone serving show a relationship as a squire to a knight.
The Meik name is not a particularly common surname. However, its popularity is growing due to immigration and awareness of the American culture throughout the world. With more people becoming aware of the name and its French origins, more individuals are deciding to take on the last name and embrace it as their own.
Variations of the surname Meik
The surname Meik is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to derive from the Old English pre 7th Century word "maeg", meaning a relative. An early example of the name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 in the form of Meicus, as a tenant in Oxfordshire, and a centenar later, William Mekes is recorded in the Inquisitio Nonarum of 1189.
Variants of the surname Meik include Meek, Meekes, Meeks, Meke, Mekes, Meeke, and Meeck.
Meik may also be a variant to the Miek surname, derived from the Old English word "mige" meaning strength. The Meik surname may also be derived from the medieval personal name "Mica" or "Migal".
Spellings of the surname Meik include Meek, Mek, Meke, Meekes, Meeks, Meack, Meeck, eack, Miek, Myck, and Myke.
Surnames of the same origin as Meik include Myles, Myless, Miles, Milesh, Mihil, Mickel, Mitchel, Mechell, Mecheal, Mechel, Meckell, Michel, Michels, Mitcheson, Miell, and Mickley.
Famous people with the name Meik
- Kurt Meik: Former German political figure, member of the Bundestag and former President of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
- Anna Meik: South African politician, Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance.
- Robert Meik: Austrian-born American film director, best known for his film "Nothing Lasts Forever".
- Torsten Meik: German musician, producer, and composer, who has served as the producer for the award-winning classical music album “Licht" and the TV series “Wetten, dass..?".
- Michele Meik: Belgian actor, known for her appearance in the film "Dying of the Light" and the TV series “The White Tiger".
- Deborah Meik: American artist and photographer, known for her photographs of the Grand Canyon.
- Dave Meik: British radio and television announcer, best known as the voice of the BBC Radio 4 programme “Feedback".
- Matt Meik: Canadian musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work in the band “Riptronik”.
- Tim Meik: British voice actor who has been featured in video games and television commercials.
- John Meik: British actor, best known for his roles in the show “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” and the movie “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”.