Surname Meinolph - Meaning and Origin

Meinolph: What does the surname Meinolph mean?

The last name Meinolph is of Germanic origin and its literal translation to English is "strong will". The name is originally derived from a combination of two old Germanic words, "meini" meaning "strong" and "olf" meaning "will". It was used to describe people who had great determination and strength of will.

The first known record of the Meinolph name dates back to the 1600s in the German region of Prussia.

In later centuries, people with the Meinolph name often adopted professions that required a great deal of mental resolve and physical determination such as medicine, engineering, and the military. Alternatively, they could play a major role in the development of their home community by taking on important responsibilities such as leading and organizing churches, building roads, and managing local businesses.

The Meinolph name is well-known for its strong moral fiber and intense loyalty. Throughout the centuries, Meinolphs have been known for having a great love of family and their country. Even today, many members of the Meinolph family can be found celebrated in various walks of life for their tremendous contributions and displays of fortitude.

Meinolph: Where does the name Meinolph come from?

The last name Meinolph is most commonly found in Germany and in German-speaking countries, such as Austria and Switzerland. It is also less commonly found in other European countries such Lithuania and Poland. In the United States, Meinolph is found more sparsely in the Northeast and Midwest regions, although census data reveals it can be found in all 50 states.

In Germany, Meinolph ranked 13,301st (out of about 8.9 million names) during the most recent survey of German surnames. In Austria, the last name is much rarer, showing up 274th out of 20,400 common Austrian surnames. Similarly, in Switzerland, Meinolph ranked 443rd out of 27,420 surnames.

The origin of the name Meinolph is uncertain but it likely originates either from a German personal name or was derived from an area within Germany. For example, the Old High German ‘magan’ means ‘to be able’ or ‘to have the power’, while ‘wolf’ could refer to someone living near a wolf-infested area or one of strength, courage, or ferocity.

Regardless of the exact origin of the name, it is clear that the majority of Meinolphs today continue to live in German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Meinolph

The surname Meinolph is likely derived from the German name Meinolf, which dates back to medieval times. The variants of this surname include Mainolf, Mainolph, Meenolf, Meinolt, Meinolf, Meinolph, Meinolphe, Meinoulf, Meinulph, Menolf, Menolph, and Menulph. In addition, variations of the spelling of the surname include Meenolph, Meinolff, Meinolphe, Meinulff, and Menulff.

The variations of the surname Meinolph are found all over Europe. In Germany, the alternate spelling of the surname may be found in such records as the Königliches Preußisches Adels-und Wappen-Lexicon (Royal Prussian Adels- and Wappen-Lexicon) and the Kirchenbuch der Stadt Halberstadt (Halberstadt Church Book). In the Netherlands, the variations of the surname can be found in records such as the Nederland's Patriciaat (Netherlands' Patriciate). In England, the surname is found in a wide variety of historical records, though the spelling in these documents usually corresponds to the spelling in Prussia.

Variations of the surname Meinolph can be found in the United States as well. Though the spelling may differ slightly in certain records, such as in the 1910 United States Census, the surname is still recognizable as Meinolph. Variations of the surname in the US include Meenolf, Menolff, and Menolph.

In addition to the variants and spelling variations of the surname Meinolph, there are several surnames of a similar origin, such as Mohrmann and Mohrman. The surname Mohrmann is derived from the German name Mohrman, which translates to mean "black man".

Famous people with the name Meinolph

• Wenzel Meinolph: German Jesuit theologian of the 17th century
• Xaver Meinolph: German sculptor from Nuremberg
• Til Meinolph: German biochemist and plant biologist
• William Meinolph: British businessman and High Sheriff of Yorkshire
• Fritz Meinolph: German filmmaker
• Björn Meinolph: German footballer
• Rupert Meinolph: former editor-in-chief for FAZ newspaper
• Dieter Meinolph: former German politician of The Free Democratic Party
• Uwe Meinolph: former German footballer
• Johannes Meinolph: German doctor and poet

Other surnames

MeinoldMeinolf