Surname Mitterer - Meaning and Origin
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Mitterer: What does the surname Mitterer mean?
The last name Mitterer is of German origin and likely derives from the Middle High German word "Mitterer," meaning someone who deals with mites or small insects. As an occupation name, it could have originated with a person whose job it was to hunt and exterminate pests. It could also have referred to a person who bred or sold various kinds of mites, such as honey bees or silkworms.
Alternatively, Mitterer may have derived from the Lower German word "Mötterrer," which meant grain pounder or miller. In this case, it would have been a name for a miller or other grain-processing worker. A third potential origin is from the name of a place called "Mudder," which was commonly found in Germany in medieval times. It is possible, therefore, that Mitterer may have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a mud field.
The surname Mitterer is likely to have been first found in Bavaria and the nearby German-speaking regions of Austria, where it appears in medieval records dating back to the late 13th century. The earliest recorded spelling of the family name was found in 1267, when Konrad Mutterre is listed in the records of the city of Munich. Over the centuries, spelling variations of the name included Mittere, Mutere, Mutterre, Metter, Mettere, Metterin and many more.
Today, Mitterer is an uncommon surname, but its namebuyers can still trace their colorful German and Austrian heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMitterer: Where does the name Mitterer come from?
The last name Mitterer is most commonly found today in Austria and Germany, particularly concentrated in the states of Bavaria and Tyrol. The origins of the name were likely Germanic, with the word “miter” likely being derived from the old Germanic mitharran, meaning “strong protection” or “powerful protector”. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 1613 in Bavaria.
The Mitterer surname is most common in Austria and Germany, particularly in the Upper Palatinate region of Bavaria. It is also widespread throughout southern and central Austria. There is a small concentration of the name in both the United States and Canada, but it is much less common in North America than in Europe. The majority of the Mitterer families in North America can trace their ancestry back to German and Austrian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Mitterer surname is not particularly common today outside of German-speaking countries and North America. Small numbers of the surname have been recorded in the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden. It is possible that the surname was introduced to these areas by descendants of German and Austrian immigrants who relocated from Europe.
Variations of the surname Mitterer
The surname Mitterer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Among them are Mitterlehner, Mittererer, Mitraer, Meitraer, Meiterer, Metzraer, and Mezger.
The surname Mitterer likely originated from Bavaria in the middle of the 16th century. In its early days, the spelling of the surname may have been Middeler or Mitterler. By the 1700s, other variations in spelling had surfaced as variants on the surname.
Mitterlehner is derived from the root “lehren”, which refers to a teacher or instructor. The addition of the “er” suffix after “Mitter” suggests that Mitterlehner may have referred to a person who instructed others in religion, literature or another field.
Mittererer likely came from the tune “lehrer”, or teacher, though it was derived from “Mitterer”. The ending of the surname implies a person who was a teacher or instructor in the village.
Mitraer is derived from the Old High German word “meri”, which means “honorable” or “respected”. Meitraer is a variation on the spelling of the surname Mitraer, and it is believed to have originated in Bavaria.
Meiterer likely came from “meiter”, an Old High German word meaning “strong” or “mighty”. The “er” suggests a person who was a powerful, influential figure in his community.
Metzraer is derived from “metzen”, an Old High German word meaning “to measure”. Mezger is a variation on the Metzraer spelling, and it refers to a person who measured goods or materials.
In sum, the surname Mitterer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Mitterlehner, Mittererer, Mitraer, Meitraer, Meiterer, Metzraer, and Mezger. The roots of these surname variants are derived from Old High German words, which reflect various occupations, attributes, or status of their original bearers.
Famous people with the name Mitterer
- Martin Mitterer: Austrian ski jumper who participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Kurt Mitterer: American football player and coach who was the head coach at Lock Haven University from 1979 to 2009.
- Ernst Mitterer: Austrian freestyle wrestler who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Zita Mitterer: Austrian biathlete who represented Austria in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Gerald Mitterer: Austrian actor with several films and TV series to his credit.
- Karlheinz Mitterer: German bobsledder who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Jutta Mitterer: former German rhythmic gymnast who appeared at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
- Gerhard Mitterer: German race walker who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Rosemarie Mitterer: Austrian curler who represented Austria in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
- Thomas Mitterer: German luge athlete who competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics.