Surname Saulheimer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Saulheimer: What does the surname Saulheimer mean?
The surname Saulheimer is believed to be of German origin and is quite uncommon. It derives from the Central German term “Sall”, meaning “willow tree”. It is believed that it might have been an occupational name for someone who worked with the willow tree, or lived near a body of water where these trees frequently grew. People who were thus involved were likely known by the name “Sall-heimer”, meaning “Willow-Heimer” or “Heimer from the Willows”. Eventually, the surname Saulheimer emerged and came to identify a specific family or people with this particular surname.
Today, individuals who bear the surname Saulheimer continue to be quite rare and can be found scattered among various regions of the world, such as the United States, Germany, France, and Switzerland. It is likely that those imbued with the historic significance of this particular surname have a deep sense of identity and pride, being familiar with its origin and meaning. It is likely that for them, the surname serves as a reminder of their unique family history and heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSaulheimer: Where does the name Saulheimer come from?
The Saulheimer surname is a German name, typically derived from the Saxon form of the name "Saltoon" which is a reference to the profession of salt-making. This is part of what is known as the hereditary surnames of Central and Southern Germany. Today, the Saulheimer surname is most common in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemburg, and Hesse.
In Bavaria, the largest population of Saulheimers can be found in the Upper Palatinate region, particularly in the towns of Neunburg vorm Wald, Waldsassen, and Schwarzenfeld. In Baden-Württemburg, the town of Saulgau in the district of Ravensburg has many Saulheimer families. And in Hesse, Schlitz, Eiterfeld, and Grebenstein in the district of Fulda are known for their large Saulheimer populations.
Outside of Germany, the Saulheimer surname can also be found in the United States, particularly in the Pennsylvania Dutch region, and particularly in the city of Allentown and surrounding Lehigh Valley area. In Canada, many Saulheimer families have settled in the Waterloo region, particularly in Baden and Waterloo itself.
Overall, the Saulheimer surname is known to have been in existence since the 16th century and has since become one of the more common and recognizable surnames of Central and Southern Germany.
Variations of the surname Saulheimer
Saulheimer is a German surname which can have several variant spellings and derivatives, depending on the region in which it originated. These variants include Savilheimer, Sälheimer, Sauleimer, Sailheimer, Salleimer, Saulleimer, Sahleimer, Soehlemer, Saalheimer, Seilheimer and Solheimer.
The main root of this surname is the Middle High German word “sal”, meaning “hall”, to which is added the suffix “heimer”, which in German stands for “House”. It is assumed then, that the original meaning of the name was “hall house” or “big house”. In the case of this surname, “Sal” could be a reference to an estate or a building which had originally served as a court or assembly hall, or it could be a reference to a conference hall or a courthouse. In that context, the name could refer to a person who either owned or managed a “hall house” or to a person who was employed as a court clerk or in some other relevant office at the court. It is also possible that this name originated as an occupational name which referred to an innkeeper or a tavern keeper who owned one of these “hall houses”.
The presence of this surname in various regions of Germany is an indication that it is likely to have multiple origins. However, the popularity of this name in the territories of present day northern Germany and Austria suggests that it was mainly confined to these regions.
Famous people with the name Saulheimer
- Jeff Saulheimer: Jeff Saulheimer is an American football coach who served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1997 to 1998.
- Gary Saulheimer: Gary Saulheimer was an American football and baseball player who played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972 to 1976.
- Mary Saulheimer: Mary Saulheimer is an American professional wrestler, best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
- Jack Saulheimer: Jack Saulheimer was an American college football player and coach in the early twentieth century. He coached at the University of Pennsylvania from 1900 to 1907, and at Lafayette College from 1907 to 1911.
- Julie Saulheimer: Julie Saulheimer is an actress, best known for her roles in the films Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) and After Midnight (2014).
- Janet Saulheimer: Janet Saulheimer is an American swimmer who has competed in the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004. She is a multiple time NCAA champion and World Cup medalist.
- Adam Saulheimer: Adam Saulheimer was an American politician who was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1895 to 1901.
- Karl Saulheimer: Karl Saulheimer was a German journalist, publisher and communist political activist. He was an editor of the magazine Neues Leben and was arrested by the Nazis in 1933.
- Harry Saulheimer: Harry Saulheimer was a German entrepreneur and real estate investor from the city of Hamburg. He was a significant donor to Nazi Germany's Winterhilfswerk.
- Pierre Saulheimer: Pierre Saulheimer is a professional chef from Switzerland, best known for his work at the two Michelin-starred Restaurant La Grand'Vigne in Valais.