Surname Vogtmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Vogtmeyer: What does the surname Vogtmeyer mean?
The last name Vogtmeyer is a German surname of occupational origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German 'voget' which means 'official'. Therefore, the name Vogtmeyer is an occupational name for someone who held a position as a ‘Vogt’ or magistrate in the Middle High German language. This is because the name ‘Vogt’ in German is short for Amtmann which is an administrative position within government. This position was also known as an official or magistrate. The prefix 'meyer' or 'meier' is used in the German language to indicate a patronymic name or a family name.
In Germany, there were different hereditary feudal administrative positions in the Middle Ages until the 19th century. These included Vogt, Schultheiss, Bürgermeister and Amtleute. Though the Vogt had authority above all other officials, by the 1500s all of these administrative positions were no longer hereditary which caused much strife among the nobility. These officials had authority and possessory rights such as the power to collect taxes and hold trials. The Vogt position was well respected and in many cases inherited from previous generations. It is likely that individuals with the name Vogtmeyer held such a position and passed the name down through the generations.
As a result, individuals with the surname Vogtmeyer can be assured of their direct family ties with highly respected and honored positions within German society. This name refers to a history of German service and honor which is something of which to be proud.
Order DNA origin analysisVogtmeyer: Where does the name Vogtmeyer come from?
The last name Vogtmeyer is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the most popular surnames. In the U.S., however, it is much less widespread. According to the Social Security Administration, it ranks in around the 20,000th most common name in the U.S.
It is believed to have originated from Old German, and is derived from the word “fugl” which means “bird”. The literal translation of “Vogtmeyer” is believed to be “Bird keeper” or “Birdmaster”. This could imply an occupation or pastime related to birds such as hunting, falconry, or bird watching.
In addition, the surname Vogtmeyer is found in parts of the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the United Kingdom. It can also be found as far east as Austria and parts of Scandinavia.
In the United States, Vogtmeyer could be found as far back as the early 1700’s on records such as the Federal Census. Pennsylvania appears to have been the most popular state for the surname to settle in at the time, and it has remained that way ever since.
Today, you can find the Vogtmeyer surname spread mainly throughout Pennsylvania, the Midwest, and California. Although not as common as many other surnames, it still has a rich and vibrant history and can be found in various parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Vogtmeyer
The surname Vogtmeyer is of German origin, first found in Schleswig-Holstein, Salez-Rheinland and east Franconia. It is one version of the common German surname Vogt which translates to mean “judge” in English. Due to the influence of speech and dialect within Germany, Vogtmeyer is not the only spelling of the surname. The variants of the surname include: Vogtmayer, Vogtmayer, Vogtmair, Vogtmair, Vogtmayr, Vogtmeir, Voigtmair, Voigtmeyer, and Voigtmayer. The variant spellings are all derived from various phonetic changes of the original surname. Additionally, the surname is very common in Germany, so there are many surnames that have the same origin. These include Fochtman, Fochtmeir, Fochtmayer, Fochtmair, Fochtmayr, Pochtmair, Pochtmeier, Pochtmeyer, Pochtmeir, Voigtmeyerr, Voigtmair, Vochtmeir, Volgtman, Volgtmair, Voltman, Voltmayr, and Votman. Depending on geographic region, some of these surnames were combined with a regional prefix, such as “von” or “van”.
Collectively, all of the aforementioned spellings and surnames are derived from Vogtmeyer and are united by the same origin. The spelling of such surnames depended on various factors such as the phonetic dialects of the region, the influence of language over time, and interpretation of the written surname. As such, Vogtmeyer is the most common adopted spelling of the surname.
Famous people with the name Vogtmeyer
- Francis Vogtmeyer, a British television director known for his work in the series EastEnders, Coronation Street, Heartbeat, and Foreign Fields.
- Dieter Vogtmeyer, a German tennis player who competed in the 1968 French Open.
- Mathias Vogtmeyer, a former German volleyball player who represented the West German national team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
- Cora Vogtmeyer, a German psychology professor and author of several best-selling books on personality science.
- Johann Vogtmeyer, a German baroque painter who was active in the 18th century.
- Youri Vogtmeyer, a Dutch former football goalkeeper who began his professional club career at FC Dordrecht.
- Philipp Vogtmeyer, a German theatre director who has worked on numerous productions at the Staatstheater Stuttgart.
- Walter Vogtmeyer, a German general who served in the German air force during World War II.
- Christian Vogtmeyer, an Austrian-born American music teacher and the creator of the “Rhythm Revolution” method for learning piano.
- Ota Vogtmeyer, a Czech-Swiss chess master who became the first Czech and Swiss champion in 1933 and 1934 respectively.