Surname Moyers - Meaning and Origin

Moyers: What does the surname Moyers mean?

The last name Moyers is of English origin and derived from a medieval professional term. The surname is an occupational one, relating to the job of a moyer or moier. This is an old English term referring to a person who was a grower or seller of vegetables, specifically green vegetables. The surname is thought to have emerged during the Middle Ages, a period when surnames were starting to become more widely used by families in the place of simple first names. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the surname saw variations, with Moyers being one of the adaptations. Like many last names, it was used to identify a person by their profession, in this case, a vegetable grower or seller. Despite these origins, the surname has spread across various parts of the world through migration, particularly in European and North American countries. Today, numerous unrelated families bear the Moyers surname.

Moyers: Where does the name Moyers come from?

The last name Moyers is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the Midwest and South. According to United States Census Bureau data, the states with the highest concentrations of people with the last name Moyers are Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. There are also scattered populations of Moyers across the rest of the country but the density is significantly lower.

Moyers is thought to be a derived version of the German or Dutch name Meyer. It has also been argued that the name may be of French origin from an earlier form of the word Moisine. The name Moyers is believed to have first come to the American shores during the mass migrations of the 19th century.

Family Surname websites suggest that most Moyers originate from the Pennsylvania-Dutch country often known as the Pennsyltucky. Those of the Appalachian Mountains seem to be the descendants of the original settlers who arrived in search of opportunities for a better life in the early 19th century. While the origin of the Moyer family name remains uncertain to this day, it has become a common sight in the United States.

Variations of the surname Moyers

Moyers is an English patronymic surname derived from the Hebrew and Aramaic root, Meir or Mir, meaning “one who shines” or “illuminated”. In western Europe, versions of the surname Moyers have evolved over time, with variants resulting from phonetic, dialectal, and linguistic influences. The most common variants of Moyers include Moir, Moyer, Moyar, Meyers, Meyer, Myers, Mayers, Mayor, Maior, and Mayers. Additionally, there are variants of the surname Moyers in other languages including Dutch Meyer, German Meier and Meijer, Hungarian Maier, Polish Majer, and Russian Mayer, Majer, and Mejer.

In some cases, the surname Moyers may be found spelt as Meyers, however this is generally found in areas where Dutch was the spoken language. Similar to other patronymic surnames, variants of the Moyers surname have arisen to show regional or even clan affiliation within certain areas.

Moyers is also commonly associated with different surnames found throughout other countries on the European continent including Moreau in France (from the Latin Mauritius “dark-skinned”), Moeremans in Belgium (a Dutch and Flemish patronymic surname), and Moers in Germany (a variant of the English Moir). It is also believed to be related to a few Irish surnames including Moyes, Moyse, and Moyase.

In conclusion, the variants, spellings, and surnames related to Moyers are numerous and diverse. While some variations of the surname are evident across different countries and regions, the root name share common origins, offering insight as to how our ancestors may have traveled centuries ago.

Famous people with the name Moyers

• Bill Moyers: journalist and media figure who known for his shows on public television
• Bob Moyers: American game-maker and disk jockey who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s
• Jim Moyers: caddie extraordinaire at the Bushwood Country Club with an infamous line “Be the ball, Danny”
• Willard D. Moyers: American attorney and banker, affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Mike Moyers: former general manager of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder
• Molly Moyers: actress and dancer who appeared on Broadway and was part of the original cast of Cats
• John M. Moyers: nineteenth century educator and politician from Freeport, Illinois
• Karl Moyers: German artist and sculptor who worked in the late 1800s
• Emily Moyers: representative for the city of Indianapolis in the Indiana State Senate
• Ernie Moyers: former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals

Other surnames

Moyer