Surname Waldmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Waldmeyer: What does the surname Waldmeyer mean?
The German surname Waldmeyer, literally meaning "Forest Meadow”, is believed to have originated from a place name. People with this name likely lived in a location where a forest met a meadow, and the name reflected the topography of their home.
The earliest documented use of the name was in Upper Swabia (a region in southwest Germany) in the late 17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries several people with the name emigrated from Swabia across Germany, as well as to the US and Canada.
The name is also associated with occupational roles; people with Waldmeyer surname may have originally been woodcutters or farmers who worked in the meadows of a nearby forest. During the Middle Ages, forests and meadows were the primary source of food, fuel, and materials for many people, and this may explain why so many with the surname lived and worked in these settings.
People with the Waldmeyer surname can be found in various parts of the world today, including the United States and Germany. Although the name may have changed over time, it is likely that anyone with the name Waldmeyer has ancestral roots in a small region in southern Germany where a forest once met a meadow.
Order DNA origin analysisWaldmeyer: Where does the name Waldmeyer come from?
The last name Waldmeyer is commonly found in Germany today. The name is believed to have originated from Saxony, a former state of the German Empire. It is believed to have derived from the combination of two German words, 'wald' meaning forest, and 'meyer' which referred to a steward in charge of managing a manor. Throughout the generations, the Waldmeyer surname has been prevalent in the region of Saxony.
In the modern day, the Waldmeyer last name can be found throughout Germany. In 2018, a study by the Verband Deutscher Familiennamen revealed that the Waldmeyer surname is somewhat widespread throughout Germany, with the greatest concentrations found in the states of Saxony, Lower Saxony and Hesse.
Today, the Waldmeyer name is predominantly found in Germany, but the surname has also spread to other European countries, North America, South America, and Australia. There are also a small number of people bearing the Waldmeyer name residing in France, Switzerland, and Austria. Ultimately, most modern-day Waldmeyers have origins in Germany, with the Saxony region, specifically, that the name has long been associated with.
Variations of the surname Waldmeyer
The surname Waldmeyer has many variants and spellings. It is an occupational name derived from the Germanic words “wald”, meaning forest, and “meyer” meaning farmer.
The most common spelling is Waldmeyer, but it is also seen spelled Waldmeijer, Waldmayer, Waldmaier, Waldmair, Waldermeyer, Waldermaier, Waldermayer, Waldmiyer, Waldméier, Waltermeyer, Waltermayer, Waltermaier, Waldemeyer, and Waltmeyer.
Variants of Waldmeyer include the Dutch Van Waldmeijer; the German Waldermeir, Waldermiir, Waldermiyr, Waldmeyeriz, and Waltmer; and the Danish Waldmejer and Waldmeier.
The surnames Waldoch and Walts are also derived from the same source. Waldoch, a surname most common in Switzerland, translates literally as “forest dweller”. Walts is derived from Wald, meaning “forest”, and “tsohn” meaning “son of”, and can be found throughout Germany and Switzerland.
The surname Waldmeyer is still common in Europe today, and its many variants are still recognizable in various countries.
Famous people with the name Waldmeyer
- Nichole Waldmeyer: USA Olympic field hockey player.
- Kim Waldmeyer: member of the German national field hockey team with over 160 caps.
- Jim Waldmeyer: American composer and multi-instrumentalist.
- Jens Waldmeyer: German long-distance runner.
- Gabriella Waldmeyer: Norwegian figure skater.
- Cliff Waldmeyer: USA Olympic diver.
- Everett Waldmeyer: American journalist and screenwriter.
- Ryan Waldmeyer: Canadian professional lacrosse player.
- Lucas Waldmeyer: German actor.
- Sherry Waldmeyer: Canadian synchronized swimming champion.
- Thodoris Waldmeyer: German water polo player.
- Harold Waldmeyer: American historian and author.