Surname Meinrich - Meaning and Origin
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Meinrich: What does the surname Meinrich mean?
Meinrich is a surname of German origin derived from the given name Meinhard, which is a combination of two elements: mein, meaning “mine," and hard, referring to a brave or hardy man.
The name is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages, with the word Meinhard becoming common among the German nobility of the time. The name was eventually adopted by lesser nobles and other families.
Since then, holders of the surname have gone on to make their mark in many different fields, including politics, science, and industry. For example, Ludwig Meinriech Cooper was part of a team of scientists who developed the CAT scan, while German politician Johannes Meinrich served as a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union in the Bundestag.
Meinrich is also the name of several German towns and villages, including a notable town in the region of Saxony-Anhalt, located on the Elbe river.
Meinrich is a unique name, and those who bear it can be proud of its long history and association with brave and successful individuals. It is a sign of strength, courage, and commitment—all qualities that any member of the Meinrich family can certainly embrace.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinrich: Where does the name Meinrich come from?
The last name Meinrich is most commonly found in Germany, primarily in the region of Bavaria. It is also found in the United States although in much smaller numbers.
In Germany, the name has its origin in the old Germanic personal name Meinric, from the Germanic elements "mein" and "ric," meaning "ruler" and "power."
Meinrich is the 145th most common surname in Germany and the 931st most frequent in the United States.
In the census records from 1880 to 2016, the name Meinrich was found in the United States, the highest concentration being in Wisconsin. It is also found in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota. Most of the people carrying the surname Meinrich in the United States are of German and Swiss origin.
The Meinrich surname can also be found in other parts of the world such as Canada, Australia, and South Africa, but it is much less common in these regions.
The Meinrichs in the United States are most likely descended from German and Swiss immigrants who settled in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, many of the Meinrichs in the United States are part of the first generation of American Meinrichs, but the origins of the name still remain firmly anchored in Germany, its place of origin.
Variations of the surname Meinrich
Meinrich is a German surname that is derived from the Middle High German word meien meaning "to count" or "to measure" and ric meaning "power." Variants of this surname include Meinen, Meiner, Meinhard, Meinert, Meinhart, Meinhardt, Meinhold, Meinholdt, Mainard, Mainhardt, Mainharz, Mainhartz, Mainheart, Mainherz, Mainrad, Mainz, Mainzer, and Mynar.
Depending on which part of Germany the surname originally came from, the spelling and pronunciation of the surname can vary. In northern Germany, the surname is spelled and pronounced as Meinrich, while in southern and central Germany, the variant Meinhardt is more prevalent. The spelling of the surname can also differ due to dialects and regional accents. For example, the name is sometimes spelled Meinhardt in the Upper Austria region. Other variants that represent the same origin include Meinhardt and Meinert, which differs from the main version in the spelling of the second element.
In some cases, the variants of the Meinrich surname can also appear as surnames of other nations. For example, Mynar can be found in Czech and Eastern European nations, while Mainhart is a spelling variant which is more common in Switzerland.
Meinrich is also used as a given name, specifically in Germany. Thanks to its versatile spelling, often times it is listed as the German equivalent of Meinhard, which is a name of Norse origin.
Famous people with the name Meinrich
- Bill Meinrich: American film and television actor, best known for his roles in sitcoms such as Friends and Scrubs.
- Howard Meinrich: American music producer who has worked with legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.
- Lothar Meinhard: German physicist and pioneer of semiconductor physics who developed the fundamentals of modern laser technology.
- Karin Meinl: Austrian operatic mezzo-soprano who has performed in some of the world’s most acclaimed opera houses.
- Maria Meinert: German photographer and journalist whose works are included in numerous collections both within Germany and beyond.
- Wolfgang Meinert: German film composer and screenwriter whose most famous works include Die Musterknaben and Schöne Bescherung.
- Trevor Meinrich: American actor who has appeared both on television and in numerous motion pictures.
- Uwe Meinberg: German biathlete who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics where he earned two bronze medals.
- Marcel Meinert: German football (soccer) player and coach who is considered one of the greatest players of his generation.
- Nicholas Meinert: British entrepreneur and investor who co-founded the investment firm Pyrford International.