Surname Sedlmeier - Meaning and Origin

Sedlmeier: What does the surname Sedlmeier mean?

The last name Sedlmeier is of German origin and derived from the Middle High German term “sedelmeer”, meaning “submerged land”, in reference to an area which is underwater or seasonally flooded.

The name may have developed as a reference to people who lived in an area prone to flooding. The geographical origin of the name is most likely near the banks of large rivers such as the Rhine, Elbe, or Oder in Germany, or in the Netherlands. It is likely that bearers of the name were fishermen or farmers living along the banks of a major body of water as it was often easier to clear and cultivate the soil close to large rivers.

The Sedlmeier surname is most popular in Germany, but is also common in Austria, Switzerland, and parts of eastern Europe. People with the Sedlmeier name can also be found outside of Europe, particularly in the Americas where immigrants with this family name settled during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

It is possible that many different modifications of the name have developed in different regions around the world, such as variations like Sedlmeyr, Sedlmeyer, and Sellmeier. As a whole, the Sedlmeier surname today stands for someone who is resourceful and resilient, likely for their ability to survive in times of flooding and to make the most of tough living situations.

Sedlmeier: Where does the name Sedlmeier come from?

The last name Sedlmeier is still fairly common today throughout Germany, Austria, and Germany's neighboring countries. Sedlmeier is a German surname and is derived from the German word sedeln, meaning “to pay” or “to settle”.

In Germany, the name is most strongly associated with Bayern, Bavaria in the southeastern part of the country. This is primarily due to the city of Sedlmeier settling in the Bavarian area during the second half of the 13th century. The name is also likely derived from a townspeople who made a living by tending lands and providing supplies from their nearby settlements.

In Austria, the surname has become popular in the Waldviertel region bordering the Czech Republic. This region is heavily populated by rural and agricultural communities, and its close proximity to Germany makes it likely that many of the original Sedlmeier's settled in Austria.

In other parts of Europe, the name Sedlmeier is less common, although occasionally encountered in countries such as Poland, Switzerland, and Hungary, where family members have likely moved over the past centuries.

In the United States, the name is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, California, and Massachusetts, likely stemming from the large German immigrant population in these midwestern and eastern states.

Overall, the surname Sedlmeier is still fairly common today, stemming mainly from that nation's Bavarian region and its European neighbors.

Variations of the surname Sedlmeier

The spelling of the surname Sedlmeier can vary from country to country but also includes numerous variants. The most common variations are Sädlmeier, Saedlmeier, Sädtmeier, Sätlmeier, Sädelmeier, Saulmeier and Sautmeier. The name can be seen as Sedlmair, Sadleier, Sedlmeyer, Sädlmeyer and Sedlmaier.

The German variant Sädtmeier is linked to the aristocratic family from the area of Sädtel in southern Germany. The families originated from Franconia in Bavaria, mainly strongly concentrated in Baden-Württemberg. In the Palatine area Sodelmair is sometimes seen as an alternative surname.

Sätlmeier was a surname mainly used in Silesia which is located in the eastern parts of the country. The name is believed to be a combination of "Sätter" and "Meier".

The Swedish variant Saulmeier is a combination of the two names Saul and Meier. People with this surname come from Swedish speaking parts of the Aland Islands.

The Polish spelling of Sedlmeier is Siedlmierz, a name with still large concentrations in the country.

The Austrian and Slovenian variant of the name is Sautmeier. In Austria the surname can also be found as Sautermeier.

The spellings of Sedlmeier vary from country to country. Surnames can sometimes change as they move from one place to the other and are adapted for local phonetics and culture. Among the variants, spellings, and surnames listed, Sedlmeier carries a long history with its origin always linked back to Germany.

Famous people with the name Sedlmeier

• Roman Sedlmeier: German professional ice hockey player for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
• Christian Sedlmeier: German swimmer, four-time medalist at the European LC Championships (2004-2007).
• Thomas Sedlmeier: German bobsledder at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, and Swiss bobsledder at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
• Alexander Sedlmeier: German alpine skier, competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Jörg Sedlmeier: German fencer, competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
• Katrin Sedlmeier: German ice hockey player from 2009-2016.
• Tom Sedlmeier: German ski jump record holder from 2012-2017, and eight-time German champion.
• Selina Sedlmeier: German tennis player from 2013-2017, two-time World Team Tennis champion.
• Christine Sedlmeier: German equestrian, competed in the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington.
• Otto Sedlmeier: German skier, competed in the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.

Other surnames

Sedlmeir