Surname Schoenmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Schoenmeier: What does the surname Schoenmeier mean?
The last name Schoenmeier is a German surname believed to derive from the German words “schoen” meaning “attractive”, and “meier” meaning “aileron” or “steward”. It is thought by some to be descriptive of an attractive steward or landlord, or alternatively a tenant who was so attractive that there was demand for the right to him. The first recorded use of the name dates back to the 13th century, in the form Schonmeyrer, in a document of Westphalia.
The Schoenmeier’s of Germany have a long and rich history. The family has been documented in numerous regions of Germany over the centuries, with the earliest records found in Bavaria, where many family members still reside today. The Schoenmeiers have traditionally been a farming family, and the name has been linked to the town of Diessen in Bavaria since the 15th century.
The Schoenmeiers have also played an important role in the military history of Germany. Over the centuries, members of the Schoenmeier family have served in the military of various German states, primarily during the pre-World War I era. One notable member of the family was Heinrich Schoenmeier, who fought at the battle of Jutland in World War I and later served as a major in the Wehrmacht during World War II.
Although the Schoenmeier name is not especially common, it has a proud and long history in Germany, and continues to be carried on to this day. It is a testament to the accomplishments, strength, and determination of the German people throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSchoenmeier: Where does the name Schoenmeier come from?
The last name Schoenmeier is most common in Germany today, and is believed to have originated there. It is common in German-speaking areas, including parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. It is also found in some French-speaking areas, such as Alsace.
The name’s first appearance in extant records was recorded in 1288 in Germany, in a document located in the city of Aachen. This suggests that the name was in use long before then. Since then, there have been cases of the name found in numerous countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
The name Schoenmeier is likely derived from the German language, in which ‘Schoen’ means beautiful and ‘Meier’ is believed to come from the word ‘meiger’ which means ‘farmer’ or ‘landholder’. Thus, it could have referred to a beautiful farmer, or someone with great land holdings. The name has since evolved to its current spelling, and the meaning is no longer relevant.
Today, the surname Schoenmeier is quite common, and there are various branches of it, distributed widely across Germany and other countries.
Variations of the surname Schoenmeier
The surname Schoenmeier has various spellings and variants, including Schöenmeier, Schönmeier, Schonmeier, Schoenmeijer, Schoenmeyerr, Schoenmeyer, Schonmeijer, Schonmeyer, Schonmyer, Shoenmeyer, Scheunemeyer, and Scheonemeyer.
Schoenmeier is chiefly of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “schôn”, meaning “pretty”, which was a common element in the Germanic naming tradition. This name can also be derived from place names such as Schönmien, Schönmayer and Schonmeijer denoting the places of origin of the bearer.
The variants and spellings can also be attributed to the numerous languages spoken within Germanic regions including Italian, English, Dutch and Scandanavian languages.
The surname is also connected to Jewish surnames, primarily from Germany and Eastern Europe, which also include Shonment, Schonmachers, Shanbrum, Schonmuks and Shammes.
People with the surname Schoenmeier may sometimes go by the abbreviated surname Schoenmei or Schonmei. This is the same surname with the 'er' removed from the end.
People with the surname may have also changed it through the years to become other surnames, such as the English surname Skidmore. The German surname Behrens is also related to the surnames Schoenmeier or Schonmeijer, a product of the influx of German immigrants to the United States.
The variants discussed here and many others are all derivatives of the same surname and help account for the versatility of the surname and its many spellings.
Famous people with the name Schoenmeier
- Nick Schoenmeier: professional American football player who was a member of the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
- Dave Schoenmeier: former National Football League wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs.
- John Schoenmeier: former American Major League Baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox and Montreal Expos.
- Ed Schoenmeier: former American football halfback who played two seasons in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns.
- Duke Schoenmeier: American zoologist, photographer, expert on remote sensing and astronaut candidate.
- Rich Schoenmeier: American keyboardist, musician and songwriter who has worked on a variety of projects for the likes of Chaka Khan, Collin Raye, Gloria Estefan, and Ottmar Liebert.
- Kamilla Schoenmeier: German musicologist and presenter of German-speaking radio programs.
- Don Schoenmeier: American politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate.
- Jake Schoenmeier: retired American ice hockey goaltender who played two NHL games with the New York Rangers in 1987.
- Tom Schoenmeier: former National Hockey League player who played distinctly with the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques.