Surname Poggemeier - Meaning and Origin

Poggemeier: What does the surname Poggemeier mean?

The surname Poggemeier is of German origin and is a topographic name for someone who lived near a mossy meadow. The surname is composed of two elements: ‘pog’ meaning ‘moss’ and ‘meer’ meaning ‘meadow’, so together it means ‘mossy meadow’. The surname is derived from an ancestor's place of residence or of a geographical feature near their residence.

The earliest recorded form of the surname is from 1245 in the German state of Thuringia, when Johannes de Pogemere was mentioned in documents. Over the centuries, the surname has spread to many countries around the world, currently being found most prominently in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Poggemeier surname may have also been a nickname for someone who acted like a mossy meadow, perhaps by being particularly gentle or peaceful. It is possible the surname was also an occupational name for someone whose job was in some way related to mossy meadows such as a groundskeeper or a shepherd who lived near a mossy meadow.

Being a topographic name, the surname could also have been assumed by farmers or landowners who kept livestock such as sheep and horses on deep mossy meadows, which were capable of holding and sustaining large amounts of livestock and were favoured by shepherds and farmers alike.

Whatever the initial reason, the surname Poggemeier has endured for centuries and is currently found in many countries around the world.

Poggemeier: Where does the name Poggemeier come from?

The last name Poggemeier, which is an old Germanic surname, is still common today across various countries in Europe. It is most prevalent in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Finland, and Estonia, where it is spelled Pöggemeier. According to various sources in some countries, such as Germany, the name is particularly common in the state of Lower Saxony. In Switzerland, it is most commonly found in the cantons of Vaud and Zurich.

The Poggemeier surname was also brought to the United States by immigrants from Germany in the mid to late 19th century. By 1940, the United States had over 200 people with the name Poggemeier. Today, the highest concentration of the last name resides in California and Michigan. There are also quite a few people with the last name Poggemeier in Canada.

The Poggemeier name is believed to have had a military or occupational origin and was derived from an Old High German word meaning “strategy.” Meaning, individuals with this last name may have once served in the military or perhaps had some kind of professional or occupational title.

It’s not uncommon to come across the Poggemeier surname in places all across Europe and North America today.

Variations of the surname Poggemeier

The Poggemeier surname is a German name found widely distributed across the world today. The spelling of the name has varied over the centuries and there are several different variations, variants, surnames and spellings that all have the same origin.

Variants of the Poggemeier surname include: Pogge, Poggi, Pogge, Poggemann, Poggendorf, Poggeler, Poggei, Poggemeier-Beck, Poggemeyer, and Pojge.

Spellings of the last name Poggemeier include: Pogge, Poggi, Pogge, Paggenmer, Pagemeyer, Pagge, Pagemeyer, and Paggemer.

Surnames derived from the Poggemeier name include: Pogge, Poggi, Pojge, Poggemann, Poggendorf, Poggeler, Poggei, Poggelhofer, Poggeler, Poggemeyer, and Poggemeier-Beck.

All of these variants, surnames and spellings of the Poggemeier name have the same origin and can be traced back to the same source. The Poggemeier name is said to be derived from “Poggenmeir” which was a place name associated with the medieval village of Poggel. The name Poggel could have derived from the German verb “poggen” meaning “to push” or “to thrust”, suggesting that the villagers of Poggel pushed most energetically outwards in their pursuits.

Therefore the Poggemeier surname and its many variants, spellings and derivatives all have the same root origin, suggesting a common ancestry for those with the Poggemeier name.

Famous people with the name Poggemeier

• Mark Poggemeier: Canadian professional hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings, the St Louis Blues, and the Los Angeles Kings.
• Andrew Poggemeier: American professional hockey player who played for the Florida Panthers and the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Dan Poggemeier: Canadian professional soccer player who played for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC, and Montreal Impact.
• Frank Poggemeier: American orchestra conductor and composer who conducted the San Francisco Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Randall Poggemeier: Canadian musician and actor who released several albums of alternative music, as well as appearing in multiple films and television shows.
• Lee Poggemeier: American painter and sculptor who creates surreal and abstract sculptures and paintings.
• Vicki Poggemeier: Canadian figure skater and Olympic silver medalist, who won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1986.
• Ann Poggemeier: American fashion designer who founded her own label, focusing on clothing for women.
• Andrea Poggemeier: international business consultant and executive coach, known for her work with Fortune 500 companies and start-ups.
• Nicolas Poggemeier: French entrepreneur and founder of Freelnace.com, the world's largest online marketplace.

Other surnames

Poggemeyer