Surname Neymeyer - Meaning and Origin

Neymeyer: What does the surname Neymeyer mean?

The last name Neymeyer is derived from the Germanic in-names "Nei" and "Meier," which translates to "beneath" and "mayor." The name likely originates from a time in medieval Germany when village mayors were the most powerful men in the area. In times of conflict, these mayor-nobles would use their vast wealth and social standing to bring forward warriors and soldiers to protect the settlement.

The literal meaning of Neymeyer is "beneath the mayor" – indicating an ancestry that has something to do with serving the mayor in some capacity. People with the Neymeyer surname may have once been servants or vassals who worked under the mayor and descended from generations of people who provided support to the mayor and his family. In addition, Neymeyer may be associated with wealthy middle-class families who sought to acquire land and wealth while remaining close to the mayor's court.

The Neymeyer surname is uncommon today, but there are still people who trace their ancestry to this medieval origin. Many descendants of the Neymeyer can still be found in Germany, Australia, and the United States. As one of the oldest Germanic surnames, the Neymeyer name is a timeless reminder of an era gone by when power and privilege came with service to the mayor.

Neymeyer: Where does the name Neymeyer come from?

The Neymeyer surname is most commonly associated with Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, it is found mainly in the south and western regions, with the highest concentration in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the Netherlands, it is fairly widespread and is most commonly found in the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Gelderland. It is also occasionally found in other countries in Europe including Scotland, France, and Austria.

In the United States, the surname Neymeyer is found mostly in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Texas. Other states that have small but notable numbers of Neymeyers include Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, Tennessee, and Minnesota.

It is believed that the surname Neymeyer originated from a Bavarian village called Neuhof. Neuhof was likely a hamlet of Hohenfels, and the surname likely derived from a place-name. Early bearers of the surname Neymeyer may have been from Neuhof originally.

In the 21st century, the Neymeyer name is especially common in North America, and especially among people of German descent. There are also a number of Neymeyers living in other parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, particularly those of Dutch ancestry.

Variations of the surname Neymeyer

The Neymeyer surname is derived from the German name Niemeyer and the Dutch name Nijmeijer. As is common with some surnames that originate from different languages, there is some slight variations in spellings. The variations include:

Nijmeyer, Niemeyer, Nijmeijer, Niemeyer, Neimeyer, Nymeyer, Neameyer, Nameyer, Neimyer, Naymeyar and Neemeyer.

Niemeyer comes from the German word niemann, meaning ‘servant of the Lord’. ‘Ny’ is usually the spelling of ‘ni’ in Dutch, hence Nijmeijer could owe its origin to the Dutch name. This name may have different variants in different regions of Netherlands including Nijmeyer and Neimeyer.

The Neameyer, Nameyer and Neimyer spelling could be attributed to the combined effects of migration and cultural influence from Irish, French and English people. There is also Nymeyer which does not have any clear origin but could be an accidental combination of the Name and Niemeyer spellings.

Naymeyar is an uncommon spelling that could have been adapted by those of Jewish heritage. This can be attributed to the frequent changes undergone by many Jewish surnames, through adaptation to the local spelling conventions of the country in which the family is living in.

In conclusion, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Neymeyer, such as Nijmeyer, Niemeyer, Nijmeijer, Neimeyer, Nymeyer, Neameyer, Nameyer, Neimyer, Naymeyar and Neemeyer.

Famous people with the name Neymeyer

• Professional skier Sebastien Neymeyer
• Dutch philologist Johann Conrad Neymeyer
• Field hockey player Natasja Neymeyer
• Professional surfer Nick Neymeyer
• Football player Timothy Neymeyer
• Artist Darlene Neymeyer
• Rower Karl Neymeyer
• Author Dru Armstrong Neymeyer
• Producer and director Sarah Neymeyer
• Actor Paul Neymeyer

Other surnames

Neymeyr