Surname Meisgeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Meisgeyer: What does the surname Meisgeyer mean?
The last name Meisgeyer is of German origin and is derived from the Old German words “meiz”, meaning “ pals” or “mates” and “geyr”, meaning “arrow”. So, Meisgeyer then translates literally to “mate’s arrow” and has been alternately translated to be "a mate of the arrows”.
Historically, this surname was a nickname given to someone who was skillful with a bow and arrow. In medieval Europe, most warriors received special nicknames as a testament to their prowess, courage, or strength. Therefore, a nickname like “mate of the arrows” would have been a great honor.
In more recent times, the surname Meisgeyer still honors the courage of past generations, but in a more subtle way. It is now recognized as a tribute to strong bonds, devotion, and friendship.
People with the Meisgeyer surname are proud of their name and their heritage. It is a name that has born witness to courage, strength, and loyalty for centuries. It is a reminder that one can rely on friends just as they can rely on their own inner courage.
Order DNA origin analysisMeisgeyer: Where does the name Meisgeyer come from?
The surname Meisgeyer is a surname of German origin, today found primarily in Germany and its surrounding countries. This is due to the fact that this is the area it began with, and due to the long history of migration and intermingling of Germanic peoples in the areas that are now Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In Austria there are also a significant number of people with this surname, mainly located in the southwest of the country.
In the United States, the surname is relatively rare. It is most commonly found in the northeastern and midwestern states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, and there are records of individuals with the surname in these states throughout the 19th century. It is also occasionally found in other states like California, Texas and Arizona, and there are also records of people with this surname who have immigrated to Canada and other countries.
The surname Meisgeyer can still be found in relatively large numbers in its traditional home region of Germany, Austria and its neighbouring countries. Beyond these areas, there are still smaller numbers of people with this surname scattered around the world, primarily in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Meisgeyer
Meisgeyer is a surname of German origin. It is derived from a combination of words meaning ‘Meise’, meaning titmouse, and ‘Geyer’, meaning hawk. This indicates that the original bearer of the surname was a person of some power or importance, able to dominate the weaker titmouse. Variants of this surname include Meisgeier, Meisgier, Meisbuyer, Meisgyer, Meisgyer, Meiskeyer, and Meissgeyer. Spellings may vary slightly on account of regional dialect; for example, the ‘eis’ can sometimes be rendered as ‘ais’ or ‘ois’ in some forms of the language.
Surnames of related origin and spelling to Meisgeyer generally follow the bird theme, including Grosvogel, Schwalbe, Vogel, and Schamberger. They all typically refer to powerful birds of prey. Grosvogel means ‘large bird’ and Schwalbe means ‘swallow’, while Vogel and Schamberger combined the words ‘vogel’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘bird’ and ‘rock’ respectively. This suggests that the original bearers of these surnames were also of some power or importance.
In the US, the spelling and variant of the surname also varies greatly between regions, the most common being Miesgeyer, Moysgeyer, and Moysager. The spelling may also change in other countries independent of the German origin, such as in France and Austrailia the surname could be written as Misegier, Meissegier, or Moisegier. In addition, the surname could also be anglicized, meaning a person with this surname could have a completely different English name. As a result, different spellings can be found within records in different countries.
Famous people with the name Meisgeyer
1.Adam Meisgeyer: Former drummer of the progressive rock/metal band Transatlantic. 2.Andy Meisgeyer: American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. 3.Adrian Meisgeyer: German theologian, professor at Erlangen University. 4.Christian Meisgeyer: German football coach and manager for several clubs. 5.Stephen Meisgeyer: Director of the National Science Foundation. 6.Jürgen Meisgeyer: former international football player from Germany. 7.Ivo Meisgeyer: Professional ice hockey centre playing in the German DEL league for the Cologne Sharks. 8.Michael Meisgeyer: Film director at Warner Bros. 9.Albert Meisgeyer: Swiss alpine ski racer. 10.Larry Meisgeyer: Retired circuit court judge in the United States.