Surname Mittermayer - Meaning and Origin
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Mittermayer: What does the surname Mittermayer mean?
The surname Mittermayer is a Germanic and Bavarian combination of two distinct terms. The first element, “Mitt,” is derived from the Middle German word “midde” meaning “middle” or “in the middle.” This implies a reference to a town in the area surrounding a structure, most probably a castle. The second element “mayer” is a local variation of “meier” or “mejer” in German, which means “farmer” or “landowner.” The combination of the two elements can be translated to 'inhabitants of a town in the vicinity of a castle who are involved in cultivating the land.'
The surname was initially adopted by someone who came from the vicinity of such a castle. In ancient Germanic tax records, one family with this last name is mentioned. Later on, this Mittermayer family moved to other places, most especially in the regions of modern-day Germany. In time, other families with the same surname can be found scattered across Europe.
To this day, the surname Mittermayer is a common one and represents a proud legacy of hard work and perseverance in cultivating land in the vicinity of a castle. It is estimated that there are almost 2400 people in the world carrying this last name. The legacy of Mittermayer also carries a deep sense of heritage and respect for the land and the people who inhabit it.
Order DNA origin analysisMittermayer: Where does the name Mittermayer come from?
The last name Mittermayer is quite common among German-speaking countries such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It can also be found in parts of Europe, America, and Australia.
In Austria, this surname occurs most prevalently in the state of Vienna. Here, people bearing the Mittermayer surname make up 0.24% of the population, slightly more than the national average of 0.2%.
In Germany, the history of the name is closely linked to the German Empire. During this period, individuals with the surname Mittermayer often held positions in high society and the military. Today, the family name is most common in the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where there are an estimated 8,000 people with the Mittermayer surname.
In Switzerland, the Mittermayer name is most pervasive in the eastern canton of Zurich. Within this canton, the last name is approximately 0.13% of the population.
In Liechtenstein, it is uncertain just how many people have the last name Mittermayer, since Liechtenstein does not collect statistics about last names.
Apart from German-speaking countries, this surname can also be found in small numbers in other parts of Europe, America, and Australia. Nevertheless, it remains primarily a German-speaking name.
Variations of the surname Mittermayer
The Mittermayer surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The variants of the surname include: Mittermair, Mittermaier, Mittermeyer, Mittermeier, and Mitternaier. It is believed that these variants developed due to cultural influences and language differences throughout history.
The Mittermayer surname is also commonly misspelled. Some of the most commonly misspelled versions are: Mettermayr, Mittermayer, Mitttermeyer, and Mettermeir.
The Mittermayer surname is not limited to a single country, and in some parts of the world is known by different surnames. For example, in German-speaking countries, the Mittermayer surname is sometimes known as Mittagemayr or Mittagmeyer. In France, the Mittermayer surname is sometimes spelled as Mittermey or Mittermez. In Italy, the surname is sometimes spelled as Mezzamare or Mezzamarra. In Spain, it is sometimes written as Metermayor, Metermayer, or Mitermaier.
The Mittermayer surname has become quite common throughout the world. It is thought to be derived from the Latin roots of “mittere”, which means “to send” and “mair”, which means “of the mayor”. This surname was given to those who worked for the mayor of the village and were sent as messengers or embassy to foreign lands.
Famous people with the name Mittermayer
- Goetz von Mittermayer: German General and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II.
- Mark Mittermayer: Professional musician, composer, and educator who has toured and recorded with a variety of international artists.
- Joseph Mittermayer: German nobleman and lawyer, known for his actions during the wars of the late 19th century.
- Johann Heinrich Mittermayer: Painter in the Rococo style from Bavaria, Germany.
- Jakob Mittermayer: Industrialist, local politician, and co-founder of Ebensee Porcelain Manufacture in Austria.
- Konrad Mittermayer: Austrian mathematician and founder of modern probability theory.
- Michael Mittermayer: Social entrepreneur, international business executive, and corporate responsibility practitioner.
- Gustav Mittermayer: Austrian architect, urban planner, and advisor for the government of Vienna.
- Johann Karl Mittermayer: German poet and philologist of the late 18th century.
- Paul Mittermayer: Austrian actor of both stage and film.