Surname Schönmayer - Meaning and Origin

Schönmayer: What does the surname Schönmayer mean?

The last name Schönmayer is a German surname with various different spellings, including Schoenmayer, Schohnmayer, and Schonmayer. The surname Schönmayer is derived from a combination of two German words: "schön" and "mayer." The word "schön" is an adjective meaning "beautiful" or "lovely," and "mayer" is an occupational name for a mayor or village administrator. Combined, Schönmayer translates literally to "beautiful mayor," likely referring to a person who held an important or prestigious position in their community.

Schönmayer is a relatively uncommon surname, with most people bearing the name living in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Its size also varies depending on which country it is found in, with the United States containing the highest population of Schönmayers.

The Schönmayer surname has been found to have likely originated in the Germanic region of Bavaria, and its first mentions have been found in court records dating as early as 1443.

The origin and spread of Schönmayer reflect the movements of people through migration and immigration during the last 500 years. Today, Schönmayer is a widely dispersed surname found in a variety of countries, with its last name holders living in places as diverse as the United States, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Schönmayer: Where does the name Schönmayer come from?

The last name Schönmayer is most common in Germany and Austria, although it is also found in Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This surname is most likely derived from a Germanic personal name which meant "clear meadow". In 1700, there were only a few families with this surname, primarily located in south-central Germany.

Today the name Schönmayer is most commonly seen in Germany. In the last census, more than 8,000 people in Germany identified as having this surname. Most of these people are clustered in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with smaller distributions in Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In Austria, the name is also quite common, with over 1,100 people listed in 2020.

In the United States, Schönmayer is a much less common surname. As of 2020, less than 1,000 people in the US have this name. Most of these people reside in Southern states, such as Florida, Texas, and Georgia.

Schönmayer is also found in other countries around the world. Smaller numbers of people with this surname live in France, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Australia and Canada also have a handful of Schönmayers living in their respective countries.

Overall, the last name Schönmayer is most common in Germany and Austria, where it has been present for centuries. Although much rarer in other countries, this name can still be found in locations around the world.

Variations of the surname Schönmayer

The surname Schönmayer has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames that all originate from the same source. In German, the most common variant is Schönemeyer, however it is also spelled as Schönmeyer, Schonemeyer, Schonmeyer, Schoenemeyer, Schoenmeyer, Schonimayer, and Schoeneimayer. In other languages, such as English, it is spelled as Schonmayer, Schonmcreater, Shinefelter, and Shineflter.

An alternative spelling in German is Schöne Meyer, which means "beautiful meadow". The surname Schönmayer is also commonly found as Schonmacher in the United States and Canada.

Surnames derived from the Schönmayer family include the French surname Schönymeier or Schöne Meier, the Dutch surname Schönenmeijer, and the Swiss surname Schönemeyer. It can also be found as Schoenmeyer, Schneidmeyer, Schniedemyer, Schneidemeyer, Schonmeier, and Schonmacher.

The Schönmayer surname is fairly widespread, with spellings differing significantly depending on the language. It has connections to many different countries around the world, and is found in both German and other European countries, as well as North America. Despite the variety of spellings, all of these variations stem from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Schönmayer

• Joachim Schönmayer: Joachim Schönmayer is an Austrian lawyer, politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria.
• Ramon Schönmayer: Ramon Schönmayer is an Austrian footballer who plays as a defender for Admira.
• Gabriella Schönmayer: Gabriella Schönmayer is an Austrian alpine ski racer who competes in all five events.
• Jan Schönmayer: Jan Schönmayer is an Austrian footballer who currently plays for Rapid Wien as a midfielder.
• Johann Schönmayer: Johann Schönmayer was an Austrian astronomer during the 17th century.
• Emil Schönmayer: Emil Schönmayer was an Austrian composer during the 18th century.
• Werner Schönmayer: Werner Schönmayer is a retired Austrian footballer and current sports director for SK Rapid Wien.
• Maximilian Schönmayer: Maximilian Schönmayer is an Austrian ice hockey player, currently playing for EHC Linz in the Austrian Hockey League.
• Robert Schönmayer: Robert Schönmayer is the current mayor of Baden, Austria.
• Josef Schönmayer: Josef Schönmayer is an Austrian historian and archivist.

Other surnames

Schönmayr