Surname Meyner - Meaning and Origin
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Meyner: What does the surname Meyner mean?
The last name Meyner is of German origin and is most likely derived from the name Meyer, meaning "farmer." It is believed that many families with this last name migrated from areas in Germany between the 12th and 16th centuries.
The name Meyer itself is derived from the Old High German word, “meiger”, which means “farmer” or “holder of land”. As such, it is believed to have started out as an occupational surname. The term was derived from an old German word, “magen”, which means "houses".
In some cases, the last name Meyner may also be derived from the English title of Mayor, or the Dutch version of the title, Maire. The popularity of the last name probably spread to more countries with increased migration in the 1600s and 1700s.
Today, the surname is commonly found in the United States, though it is still very common in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. According to the US Census in 2000, it was the 76,739th most frequent last name in the country.
Overall, the last name Meyner is likely an occupational name of German origin, and means “farmer” or “mayor”. The popularity of the name has spread with migration and is now found in many countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMeyner: Where does the name Meyner come from?
The last name Meyner is primarily found in the United States today, especially among descendants of German immigrants. This is in spite of the fact that the last name is derived from an Old Norse term meaning ‘power or strength’ and is thought to have originally been associated with powerful Viking rulers sometime in the 5th and 6th centuries.
The highest concentration of Meyners is found in Pennsylvania, where thousands of people with the surname were among the first German and Swiss immigrants to arrive in the colonial period. In recent times, the surname Meyner is still especially common in Pennsylvania and some other parts of the Northeast, such as New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Overall, however, the presence of the last name has spread much further throughout the U.S. today, with records showing significant numbers in a number of Southern states such as Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, as well as the Midwest and West Coast. This is a reflection of the large-scale German immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries that introduced a wave of Meyners to different parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Meyner
The surname Meyner has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin linked to it. The most common form is Meyner, but there are also other spellings such as Mayner, Maynner and Maenner. Other surnames of the same origin include Meiner, Meiners, Meisner and Meinhardt. In some cases, the surname is rendered in its original German spelling, Meiner.
Meyner is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word "mienen," which means to limit, specify or assign. It was used in the 13th century as an occupational name to refer to someone who was responsible for assigning jobs or tasks.
In Germany, there is a large concentration of the surname Meyner around the area of Rhineland-Palatinate. Areas in Switzerland, such as Schaffhausen and Zurich, have also been known to host populations of the surname.
In North America, the name is also prominent and is more likely to remain in its original spelling, as there are far fewer variants of the name in English-speaking countries. Variations where a "y" has been added, such as the adoption of "Meyers," are more common in the United States and in other countries with significant English-speaking populations.
The surname has had an impressive list of bearers, ranging from American politician Robert Meyner who served as Governor of New Jersey from 1954 to 1962, to Austrian-born psychologist and psychologist, Charles Meyner, who is best known for his contribution towards Freud’s psychoanalytic theories.
Overall, the surname Meyner is a multi-national surname that has become established in countries across the globe due to its various spellings, variants, and surname of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Meyner
- Robert Meyner: Former Governor of New Jersey (1954-1962) who was also the 1954 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.
- Carrie Meyner: American civil rights attorney and activist.
- Charles D. Meyner: American politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey from 1954 to 1962.
- William Meyner: Former Governor of New Jersey (1962-1970) who went on to hold a seat in the U.S. Congress.
- Franz Meyner: German-American artist, playwright, and novelist who grew up in Germany during World War II.
- Toni Meyner: Daughter of former U.S. Congressman, William Meyner, and her husband, Frank Holman.
- Ellen Meyner: Wife of former Governor of New Jersey, Robert Meyner, and daughter of Mary Mountain Platt and Edgar B. Stern, Jr.
- Edward Meyner: American attorney and politician who served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey from 1935 to 1941.
- John Meyner: Early 20th century American businessman who was the president and treasurer of the John Meyner Company.
- Eric Meyner: American musician who is a former member of the band, “The Goo Goo Dolls.”