Surname Mejer/Meyer - Meaning and Origin
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Mejer/Meyer: What does the surname Mejer/Meyer mean?
The surname Mejer/Meyer is a derivation of a German occupational name meaning "one who is employed as a steward, overseer, administrator, or estate manager." It is a common surname throughout Central and Eastern Europe, with the variant forms including Mayer, Meier, Meyers, Meir, Mayers, and Maier.
The surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when stewards, administrators and estate managers typically held positions of power and authority in their respective communities. In medieval Germany, the surname Mejer/Meyer could be found in the Dausau region, in a district known as "Mogersdorf". The surname could also be found in some Austrian surnames in the 12th century.
In Central and Eastern Europe, the surname is quite common, and can be found in many different cultures. In Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, it is the 5th most frequent surname. In Hungary and Slovakia, it is the 7th most common surname. In Bulgaria, it is the 8th most common name. Additionally, it can be found among French, Italian and Arabic-speaking communities.
The surname is widely used in Germany as a middle name and is a popular choice for naming children. Meyer, Mejer, or variants thereof can also be found in surnames in the US, mainly among German immigrants and their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisMejer/Meyer: Where does the name Mejer/Meyer come from?
The surname Mejer/Meyer is a German and Jewish surname which has spread throughout the world. Today it is common in various countries and regions around the world.
In Germany, Meyer is a common last name, particularly in the Magdeburg area, as well as in parts of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. In the Netherlands, Meijer is one of the most common surnames, particularly in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland, as well as in western Germany and various parts of the United States.
United States is one of the other countries where Mejer/Meyer is widely found, having been brought by German immigrants. Statistics showed that Meyer is amongst the 100 most common surnames in the US. It is observed that the highest concentration of Meyers may be found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but also in other Midwestern states including Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
In Latin America, places like Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama are amongst the places where this last name is most commonly found. Jewish families from the European countries like Germany, Austria, Romania, Czech Republic and other regions of Central and Eastern Europe had migrated to Israel throughout late 19th and mid-20th century, carrying their last name Mejer/Meyer with them. Today this surname is even more common in Israel than in its original locations.
The last name Mejer/Meyer is also very common in countries like Canada, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. There is no doubt that the last name Mejer/Meyer has enjoyed a great amount of success in the past and continues to be widespread today due to its rich heritage.
Variations of the surname Mejer/Meyer
The surname Meyer/Mejer is of German and Ashkenazic Jewish origin. It is derived principally from the Middle High German meier, which originally referred to a steward or a bailiff who represented the local lord of the manor. The name also has an independent origin as a nickname derived from the German word meier, meaning mayer or mayor. As a result, plunging through the centuries, at least three distinct nobles having held the title derive their family name from the same word.
Variants of the surname Meyer/Mejer, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include:
Mayer, Meier, Maier, Mayr, Meyr, Myer, Meyerhofer, Meyerhoff, Maire, Marr, Mayers, Mayors, Miers, Majors, Mair, Maar, Mager, Mairhofer, Maarhofer, Meirhofer, Meirhoff, Mayrhofer, Mayrhoff, Mairhiger, Maarig, Maere, Marig, Meer, Mairing, Mearing, Maring, and Meerkens.
In addition, a variety of immigrant spellings of the surname Meyer/Mejer can be found, including Meierovich, Maierowicz, Meyerowitz, Myerowitz, and Meirson. Other surnames of similar origin include Myers, Meyerowitz, Myers, Myers, Myerson, Myres, Moir, and M Stein.
Overall, the spelling variations of the last name Meyer/Mejer are numerous. Some of them have been derived from nicknames, which were based on appearances, habits, and mannerisms, while others have been created based on regional and dialectal differences. And while the origin of the name can be traced to one common source, its many variations and spellings reflect the long, fascinating history of the name.
Famous people with the name Mejer/Meyer
- Oscar Meyer: American entrepreneur, best known as the founder of the Oscar Mayer company
- Kyra Meyer: American actress
- Freddy Meyer: American retired professional ice hockey player
- Emma Meyers: American actress
- August Meyer: German artist, best known as the chief engraver of Arthur Krupp Fine-Art Works
- John Meyer: English actor
- Erich Meyer: German Nazi leader
- Paul Meyer: charged with ‘espionage’ (people’s assessor of the Soviet Union)
- Sonya Meyer: American actress
- Jack Meyer: American singer
- Helmut Meyer: German actor
- Stephani Meyer: American actress
- Henry Meyer: German physicist who was part of the ‘Gauß-Meyer’ project
- Steven Meyer: American director best known for his work in the movie ‘The Notebook’
- Lou Meyer: American House Representative
- Peter Meyer: Australian media executive
- Suzanne Meyer: English poet
- Augusta Meyers: American composer and pianist
- Jack Meyer: American professional golfer
- Kurt Meyer: Canadian entrepreneur, best known as a co founder of the Business Development Bank of Canada