Surname Weinmaier - Meaning and Origin

Weinmaier: What does the surname Weinmaier mean?

The last name Weinmaier is a German name meaning "vineyard-keeper" or "wine-grower." It typically originates in the Bavarian region of Germany, where vineyards and wineries have been an important part of the culture and economy for many centuries.

Weinmaier is derived from the German word wein meaning "wine" and the word meier meaning "lord of the manor." It is an occupational surname, typically given to someone who was responsible for managing a vineyard or overseeing wine production.

The Weinmaier name is also found in Austria, where it is spelled Weingmayer or Weingmair and in other areas of Germany such as the Rhineland, where it is spelled Weinmüller or Weinmeuller.

Although it is believed that the Weinmaier family derived from a single progenitor, it is likely that the name itself is fanning out into diverse branches over time. A family history project could be a fascinating way for modern Weinmaiers to investigate the fascinating past of their ancestors.

Weinmaier: Where does the name Weinmaier come from?

The last name Weinmaier is most commonly found today in Germany and Austria, though sparser settlements of the name can be found in other parts of Europe and beyond. In Germany, the highest population density of Weinmaiers is in the Stuttgart region and the Black Forest in the southwest of the country, with additional areas of concentration in Thuringia in the east and Bavaria in the south.

In Austria, most Weinmaier families trace their roots to Tyrol, although some save localized pockets of settlement in Vienna and elsewhere. On average, a Google search for the name Weinmaier yields fewer than 500 results in Austrian areas of influence. It is thought that many of these families can trace their origins back to the 17th or 18th century, in which case their ancestors likely arrived in Austria and Germany from the neighboring countries of Italy and the Czech Republic.

There are also small populations of Weinmaiers found in the United States, mostly concentrated in the Midwest and Washington D.C. regions, though some have emigrated and settled in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Mexico, Australia, and South Africa.

In short, while Weinmaier is not as prominent a surname as some others, there are still significant populations of people who bear this name today, primarily in Germany and Austria, along with scattered pockets in the United States and beyond.

Variations of the surname Weinmaier

The surname Weinmaier has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. First, the spelling “Weinmaier” can be found as “Weinmayer”, “Weinmair”, and “Weinmaul”, all of which indicate that the name originates from a person who was a “wine-maker” or “wine-lord”. Additionally, there are several surnames which are of similar origin including Weingart, Weingasse, and Weinhofer.

Weingart is often pronounced “Vine-gart” and is derived from the German verb “weingerben” meaning “to press out wine”. It can be an occupational surname for someone who makes wine barrels or as an dwelling name referring to the location of a wine-press.

Weingasse can be pronounced “Vine-gas-e” and is derived from the German “weingasse” meaning “wine-street” or “vine-street”. This could refer to someone that lived on a street named after a vineyard or wine-maker, or a wine-maker or grape-grower living on a street that was already named as such.

Weinhofer is the German spelling of the surname “Weinmair” and would have been an occupational surname for a person who had been involved in the production of wine. This could mean a wine-maker or a vintner who supplied wine to taverns.

In summary, the variant spellings for Weinmaier include Weinmayer, Weinmair, and Weinmaul. Also of similar origin are the surnames Weingart, Weingasse, and Weinhofer. All of these surnames indicate that the origin of the name is related to wine production.

Famous people with the name Weinmaier

• Heinz Weinmaier: German sculptor, painter, and graphic designer known for reinterpreting conventional geometric constructions.
• Benno Weinmaier: German art historian, philologist, and professor emeritus at the University of Vienna.
• René Weinmaier: Swiss photographer and co-founder of Photokult, a Zurich-based independent photography agency.
• Cornelius Weinmaier: German cinematographer who worked on a great variety of films, from Gothic horror to comic capers.
• Peter Weinmaier: German filmmaker and television producer who is best known for directing the feature film, Der Tag an dem die Erde stillstand.
• Christian Weinmaier: Austrian actor and director associated with experimental theatre, improvisation, and physical theatre.
• Wolfgang Weinmaier: Austrian musicologist and professor emeritus at the University of Vienna.
• Hermann Weinmaier: German mathematician and physicist known for his work in the field of fluid dynamics.
• Andreas Weinmaier: German photographer known for his dynamic black and white street photography.
• Joseph Weinmaier: Swiss master watchmaker, specializing in the restoration and repair of antique timepieces.

Other surnames

Weinmair