Surname Seelemeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Seelemeyer: What does the surname Seelemeyer mean?
The last name Seelemeyer is derived from the German words “Seele” and “Meyer”, meaning "soul" and "miller", respectively.
This German surname has been many centuries in the making. Initially, the Seelemeyer surname was adopted by a family of millers. When a miller would have his own mill, he was called a meyer. This family took the name Seelemeyer to reflect their occupation as millers.
It is also believed that the Seelemeyer surname has some religious connotations as well. Seele was traditionally used to refer to the soul and can also be used in reference to spirits. This could be reflected in the family's religious beliefs at the time.
The German Seelemeyer surname is still seen today. There are many families that still carry the surname to this day. It is a nod to the family's past and the importance of milling to their livelihood. So, this German surname can be seen as a memorial to the hardworking individuals who made the Seelemeyer family what it is today.
Order DNA origin analysisSeelemeyer: Where does the name Seelemeyer come from?
The last name Seelemeyer is most commonly found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria today. It is a German name and originates from a place name meaning "cellar meadow." Seelemeyer is primarily a German and Swiss patronymic surname, meaning that it was derived from the father's given name rather than the family castle or estate. This type of name was quite common in the Middle Ages, when it was important to differentiate between people with similar given names. The commonly accepted spelling of the name is Seelemeyer, though other spellings such as Selemeier, Selmier, and Seelemeier have also occasionally been seen.
The first recorded instance of Seelemeyer in German records dates back to the late 1300s, when one Heinrich Selmier was listed in a tax record from Bavaria. In the early 1800s, the family moved south and east, and a Seelemeyer is recorded as being born in Greece in 1879. Today, the Seelemeyer family is found primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and there are numerous Seelemeyer families living in those countries. The majority of the Seelemeyers living in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are of Germanic origin, but some originated in other countries such as Turkey and Serbia. Many Seelemeyers are known to have emigrated from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to the United States between 1850-1910.
Variations of the surname Seelemeyer
The surname Seelemeyer is an old German name mostly found in the central and southern regions of Germany. It is also found in other German speaking areas like Switzerland and Austria. It is an occupational surname with the root word “seeling” meaning canopy. Hence, the surname literally means “maker of canopy” which refers to the profession of a tanner or a weaver.
The variants of the surname Seelemeyer are “Seelemeijer”, “Seelemeyer”, “Seelymer”, “Seelymeyer”, “Sollmeyer”, “Seelmeyer”, “Seelmayer”, “Solmeyer” and “Selemeyer”. All of these variants are phonetically similar and maintain similar spellings and meanings.
The surnames derived from the same origin as Seelemeyer are “Seelemaier”, “Seelemaeier”, “Zelemejer”, “Zelemeijer”, “Seelenmaeier”, “Seeleymayer”, “Seelenmaier” and “Seelenmayer”.
Seelemeyer is a uncommon surname, however, most of these derivatives of the same origin are also uncommon. Some of the Seelemeyers that can be found in online genealogical records are from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and even the United States tracing back to the 1700s.
Famous people with the name Seelemeyer
- Julia Seelemeyer: German news anchor for Tagesschau.
- Albrecht Seelemeyer: German physicist and mathematician who influenced quantum physics.
- Frederick Seelemeyer: an American farmer and state senator in the state of Oklahoma.
- Peter Seelemeyer: German entrepreneur and founder of the multi-national company Seelemeyer AG.
- Anton Seelemeyer: Austrian-American silent film actor best known for the films The Cohens and Kellys in Atlantic City and The Barron and the Beanstalk.
- Rudolf Seelemeyer: German footballer with the title of 5-time German Champion and founder of the football team FSV Niedersachsen.
- Ian Seelemeyer: American entrepreneur and president of Seelemeyer Group, which provides market research and consulting services.
- Henry Seelemeyer: German painter who spent a lot of time travelling and whose work has been showcased in the Museum of Modern Art in Darmstadt, Germany.
- Kurt Seelemeyer: the head coach of the football team at the University of Kentucky from 1978 to 1980.
- Alfred Seelemeyer: German Nazi SS officer who was involved in the deportation of Jews to the concentration camps in occupied Poland.