Surname Süßmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Süßmaier: What does the surname Süßmaier mean?
The last name Süßmaier is derived from the German name ‘Süß’ which can mean either sweet or sugary, and the word ‘Maier’, which refers to an official title from old Germanic law. Put together, the last name Süßmaier could be translated to mean ‘sweet magistrate’ or a ‘sweet official’.
Süßmaier is a rather uncommon surname in Germany, though it has some presence in southern Bavaria and other areas of southern Germany. It is believed to have originated from a manor in the area of present-day Baden-Württemberg. The name is believed to date back to the 13th century, when officials – known as Maier – held positions of power to oversee the ruling of towns and estates. Hence, an official of great power would be referred to as a ‘sweet’ or sugary Maier.
The last name Süßmaier has been around in Germany for centuries. It is thought that many of the bearers of the name are descendants of the same family and live in the same areas where the name originated. The name is found throughout Bavaria and has spread across Germany throughout the country. It is a very distinctive name and stands out wherever it is used.
The Süßmaier family has a rich history of serving in offices of power, such as that of government offices, judges, teachers, and even in the military. Because of this long history, the name Süßmaier has become a source of pride and honour in Germany, and those who bear the name are held in high esteem.
Order DNA origin analysisSüßmaier: Where does the name Süßmaier come from?
The last name Süßmaier is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, the most densely populated regions with this surname are Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. However, the surname also appears in Lower Saxony, Hesse, and Saxony-Anhalt. Across Europe, Süßmaier has spread as far as Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland.
In the United States, Süßmaier is relatively uncommon. According to the 2019 American Community Survey, less than 1,000 individuals across the country have the last name Süßmaier. Most of those individuals are in Texas, Illinois, and Florida; states that have seen a large influx of German immigrants dating from the early 20th century.
The frequency of the name Süßmaier has likely remain consistent over the years due to the general infrequency of German immigrants and the lack of widespread assimilation in the United States. Additionally, the wording of the surname would likely pose difficulties to English speakers attempting to transcribe it, thus likely leading to less prominent record-keeping. Thus, Süßmaier remains largely concentrated in German-speaking countries today.
Variations of the surname Süßmaier
The surname Süßmaier has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Süßmayer. Other variants include Süßmeyer, Suesmayer, Süsmair, Süßmeier, Süssmeier, Süssmeyer, Suesmeier, and Sugsmair.
The surname can also be spelled differently, such as Suesmaier, Suessmaier, SUessmayer, Suessmair, Suessmeier, Suessmeir, Suessmeyer, Suessmaierr, Suessmaer, Suessler, Suismair, Zuessmeier, and Zuessmeyer.
Variants of the surname can also be found internationally, such as German forms Susmaier, Susmair, Susmaer, and Zusmair, as well as the Swiss backformation Susmayr.
Other related surnames include Sizmayer, Sizmeier, and Singmair, which may have come from the Middle High German phrase süz mager (man of worth). Another similar surname is Susam, which can be used as a shortened form of Süßmaier.
All of these variants and related surnames can be traced back to the common origin of the family name Süßmaier.
Famous people with the name Süßmaier
- Luca Süßmaier: footballer for Darmstadt 98
- Ferdinand Süßmaier: prominent German judge; highly regarded for his work as a legal scholar at the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
- Günther Süßmaier: actor, best known as Dr. Stefan Frank in the German television show, “In aller Freundschaft”
- Michael Süßmaier: olympic rower who competed for West Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Maximilian Süßmaier: photographer and director; his work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world
- Theresa Süßmaier: award-winning German screenwriter, best known for writing the screenplay for the film “Fack ju Göhte”
- Frank Süßmaier: Bavarian television presenter and media personality, best known for the economy program “m1: Aktuell”
- Karl Süßmaier: German navigator and pilot; given the highest honors by the German Air Force for his 1938 round-trip journey across the North Atlantic Ocean
- Erich Süßmaier: German sculptor, known for his large-scale public works in bronze and aluminum
- Walter Süßmaier: World War I soldier; posthumously awarded the Iron Cross for his bravery