Surname Tiemeier - Meaning and Origin
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Tiemeier: What does the surname Tiemeier mean?
The surname Tiemeier is of Dutch origin, and historical records indicate it was first used as a hereditary surname in the southern regions of the Netherlands. In the language of the Dutch people, the word tiem means "time" and the term meier is a form of the word meester, meaning "master." Combined together, the surname Tiemeier is thought to refer to a person who was an expert in timekeeping or a clockmaker, or even a "lord of time."
The earliest record of the Tiemeier surname is found in the fifteenth century, when a man known as Willem Willems van Tiemeier was listed in records as a man of wealth and influence in the province of Utrecht. Other Tiemeier families were recorded in Zeeland and North Brabant, so it is thought they may have originated in one of these regions before emigrating to other parts of the Netherlands.
In the centuries since, Tiemeier families have spread across the Netherlands and beyond, and notable people who have borne this surname include Nano Tiemeier, a Dutch-American businesswoman, and Wilhelm Andreas Tiemeier, an important German mathematician. Today, the Tiemeier surname is still sometimes used in the Netherlands, and can also be found in various other countries including the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisTiemeier: Where does the name Tiemeier come from?
The last name Tiemeier is commonly found throughout Germany today. This long-standing German name likely originated in North Germany, specifically around the Rhineland-Palatinate region. The name would have then spread north and west, originating from nearby Luxembourg and France.
Tiemeier is a popular last name in Germany because of its historic meaning and origin. It likely developed as a toponymic or habitational surname, referring to people who were from the places Tiemeier, Tiemeyer, or Timmermann. The German word "Tiemeier" that was once the basis for these regional surnames is derived from the word "Auf dem Timer", meaning “on the timber", indicating a timber-rich area.
Tiemeier is not as common in other countries besides Germany today, though there are some outliers. In 2010, there were 93 people from the Netherlands, 23 from the United States, and four from Canada listed on a genealogical website that shared the last name. Though a relatively rare surname, the proliferation of Tiemeiers in Germany gives some idea as to its origin and how it has stayed in the German culture for centuries.
Variations of the surname Tiemeier
The variant spellings of the surname Tiemeier are Thymeier, Tymeier, and Tymeyers. It is thought that the surname originated in Germany and is derived from a given name which is an altered form of the Middle High German “Time”, meaning “servant of God”.
In some variations, this surname has been found to be spelled as Te109 imeyer or Thimeyer and in some cases, Tiemeier is spelled with a simple “e” instead of an “i” although both are pronounced the same in English. This surname is quite common throughout Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands.
It is thought that the variants are due to natural dialect developments over time as the surname was passed down through generations. Other surnames of similar origins include Timm, Timme, Thieme, Timmermans, Thorman, and Thormann.
The popularity of the surname Tiemeier has waxed and waned over the years, likely due to its Germanic roots. During World War II, many of the non-Germanic variants of the surname were changed to hide their Nationality. Additionally, those who had the Tiemeier surname often changed it during times of anti-German sentiment, to avoid discrimination.
Today, families with the Tiemeier surname live throughout the world, although the majority of them appear to be in Europe, especially Germany and the Netherlands. The variant spellings and alternate surnames of the same origin are a reminder of the many cultural and historical contextual influences that have gone into shaping this unique and timeless surname.
Famous people with the name Tiemeier
- Bettie Tiemeier, American reporter
- Wijbrand Tiemeier, Dutch immunologist
- Reto Tiemeier, German educationalist
- Yolanda Tiemeier, Dutch actress
- Cees Tiemeier, Dutch sculptor
- Noud Tiemeier, Dutch professional football player
- Tobias Tiemeier, German-Chinese medical doctor
- Mike Tiemeier, American visual effects artist
- Eddie Tiemeier, American racing driver
- Rolland Tiemeier, Dutch-American painter and sculptor