Surname Niederbauer - Meaning and Origin
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Niederbauer: What does the surname Niederbauer mean?
The last name Niederbauer is of German origin and translates to “lower farmer” or “lower peasant”. This surname would likely have referred to someone who lived and worked on the lower fields of a village.
The surname Niederbauer originated in the middle ages. In this era farmers with the lower land would have been disadvantaged compared to those with higher land in the village. The lower fields usually consisted of poorer conditions; of wetter, clay soils, or areas prone to flooding. This would have been reflected in the language commonly used to separate those who owned higher land and had greater economic advantage, and those who owned lower land with more disadvantage.
In later historical periods, the lower land became more favourable and was considered a more desirable asset than the higher fields. This shift saw people with the surname of Niederbauer become more prominent in the villages, owning land of greater value and having more wealth.
The surname is still widely used in Germany today. Alongside Germany it is also found in Austria and the Czech Republic and may even be found in countries further afield like the United States as families with the last name moved for greater opportunities in the past.
In conclusion, the last name Niederbauer was once used as a way to identify those below those with higher land in the village, however in later periods saw those with this name become more prominent and prosperous.
Order DNA origin analysisNiederbauer: Where does the name Niederbauer come from?
The surname Niederbauer can be found throughout Europe today, as well as some parts of North America. In Germany, Niederbauer is an Upper Bavarian toponymic surname derived from the region of Oberpfalz. It is relatively common in southeastern Germany, including the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Research indicates that the Niederbauer family originally settled in the area in the 16th and 17th centuries.
In Austria, Niederbauer is an Upper Austrian proto-surname, related to an estate located in the Lamprechtshausen region of Upper Austria. The surname is found throughout the country, as well as in Hungary.
The surname is also found in North America. It is most common in the United States, particularly in states like Pennsylvania with a long history of German-Austrian-Bohemian immigration. In Canada, Niederbauer has been found in Ontario and Quebec.
Overall, Niederbauer seems to have a long and distinguished history, spanning multiple continents. It has maintained a presence in the same areas for considerable periods of time and has spread to new parts of the world through immigration.
Variations of the surname Niederbauer
The surname Niederbauer is thought to have derived from an old German phrase meaning "lower farmer", and is believed to have been derived from an old German occupational surname. It is also commonly spelled Niederbaurer, Niederbaurer, Niederbauer, Nederbauer, Niederberger, Nederberger, Neiderberger, Neiderbauer, etc.
Various sources note that the surname is most common in and around southwestern Germany and Austria; however, the surname has spread to other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is believed that the earliest use of the surname is than the 12th century, and that the first recorded use of the surname was in the records of Tagweißenbach, Germany in 1227.
The surname Niederbauer has many variants in spelling, including Niderbauer, Niederburger, Niederhaar, Niederhauer, Niderhauer, Niedermeir, Niedermeyer, Niedermaier, and Niedermaire. Other surnames commonly associated with this same family history and ancestry are Nedrebauer, Nedrebauer, Neidrebauer, Neidribauer, Niderbaur, Niderbauher, Niedouer, Niedoueur, and Niedererbauer.
Overall, the spelling variations you may encounter when researching the Niederbauer surname are vast. However, most sources agree that regardless of the spelling variation, all surnames that began with the prefix Nieder- are generally accepted to have the same origin.
Famous people with the name Niederbauer
- Matyas Niederbauer: Hungarian football player and manager, best known for his 1905-1912 coaching stint as the head of Austrian side Wiener Sport-Club.
- Paul Wilhelm Niederbauer: Austrian painter, best known for his portrait miniatures and competed in the International Exhibition of Modern Art in New York in 1913.
- Muharem Niederbauer: Macedonian football striker, who currently plays for FC Vienski Venac in the First Macedonian Football League.
- Frank Niederbauer: Austrian cross-country skier, and competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
- Philipp Niederbauer: Austrian footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
- Jürgen Niederbauer: Austrian basketball player, best known for his stint with BC Vienna between 2007 and 2009.
- Rudolf Niederbauer: Austrian ice hockey player, who played two seasons from 1986 to 1988 with HC Innsbruck in Austrian Hockey League.
- Barbara Niederbauer: Austrian alpine skier, and competed in the 1974 World Alpine Ski Championships.
- Peter Niederbauer: Austrian table tennis player, and competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
- Mark Niederbauer: American actor, and best known for his appearances in films such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Hot Tub Time Machine.