Surname Meynen - Meaning and Origin
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Meynen: What does the surname Meynen mean?
The last name Meynen is of Dutch origin and is derived from a patronymic form of one of the Germanic personal names Meyer or Meier. Often originating as a nickname for one who was known for caring for the animals on a farm, it later became a surname. Meynen is a common Dutch and Belgian surname, and can today be found throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as other parts of the world, particularly North America and Australasia.
The surname Meynen means someone who is a farmer, specifically someone who owes either an estate or a farm, or cares for the animals on a farm. This name was likely a nickname for someone who had earned such a reputation – perhaps a farmer who was very knowledgeable or particularly skilled in caring for his animals. Others have suggested that the name is derived from the Middle High German “meinmeister”, translating to a rare title of “master of the meadow or pasture”.
The surname Meynen is most often found in areas with a strong Dutch or German influence, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the former Dutch colonies in North America, South Africa and Australasia. Today, it is likely to be primarily used as a surname, but it is still commonly found in given name form in many parts of Europe, and to a much lesser degree, other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMeynen: Where does the name Meynen come from?
The last name Meynen is most common in northern Europe, especially the Netherlands and Belgium. In particular, it is particularly popular in the area of north eastern Netherlands and the Flemish part of Belgium. In the Netherlands, it ranks about 220th out of approximately 12,000 surnames, while in Belgium it ranks about 80th out of approximately 50,000 surnames.
The origin of the name likely comes from Germany, most likely meaning "mine owner". The name could also originate from a place name. According to one source, there is a small village called Meynen that is close to the Dutch border.
The progenitor of the Meynen surname is believed to be Hendrick Meynen, who was born circa 1590 in Bavaria, Germany. He moved to the Netherlands, where he married and had three children. From there, the name was passed down through the generations to the present day.
Today, people who bear the last name Meynen can be found in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United States, Canada, and other countries where Dutch emigrants have settled. It is a relatively rare last name, but still has a long tradition.
Variations of the surname Meynen
The surname Meynen has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Meynen while other variants include Meijnen, Meeuwis, Meunes, Meysen, Meynis and Meisen. All of these names share a common root, which is the old Dutch periphrastic patronymic form of the name Meyne.
The origin of the surname Meynen lies in the pre-medieval period of Dutch history when many people adopted patronymic surnames in order to identify their lineage. The name Meynen would have been adopted from the given name Meyne, which is derived from the old Germanic personal name Magin, which means strength or power.
It is also thought that the name Meynen is connected to the Germanic name Maginhard, which means brave and powerful, and is derived from the Latin magnus hardus which means brave and heroic. Additionally, the given name Meyne could also be derived from the old Germanic male name Maginhard, which was popular in Germanic languages in the early medieval period.
The name Meynen can also be found in the records of emigrants from the German-speaking countries in Europe to America and Canada, particularly in the 16th and 19th centuries. The spelling variants of the name Meynen and its related surnames are still common in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium today.
Famous people with the name Meynen
- Claire Meynen, Belgian model and television presenter
- Jan Meynen, Belgian educator, politician and former Minister of Education
- Michiel Meynen, Belgian actor, musician and writer
- Philippe Meynen, Belgian jurist and professor
- Emil Meynen, German international footballer
- Michelle Meynen, Belgian singer and songwriter
- Tom Meynen, Belgian former international footballer
- Nathalie Meynen, Belgian actress
- Emmy Meynen, Dutch pediatrician
- Lijsbert Meynen, Dutch composer, conductor and music producer