Surname Westermair - Meaning and Origin
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Westermair: What does the surname Westermair mean?
The last name Westermair is of German origin and means "western manor." This surname most likely indicates that the ancestors of the bearer were landowners in a western location in Germany, and was likely taken by a builder, building master, builder's aide, or architect.
In Germany, it was common for individuals to take a last name that described their occupation or location, and this practice was also carried out by German immigrants to other countries who wanted to keep their hereditary links. Westermair was likely adopted by one of these immigrants or by their descendants.
Throughout the years, the Westermair surname has been recorded variously as Westmeer, Westman, Wasting, Westmair, Westmarch, Westmeer, Westmayr, Weston, Wentmair, Weymair, and Westermair. It could also be found spelled Westemayer and Wassertmair. The Westermair spelling was found mainly in Germany, while other variations spread to Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The surname Westermair is still common in Germany and other German-speaking countries. Throughout the world, Westermairs can be found in small towns and large cities, as well as in all types of professions and occupations.
Order DNA origin analysisWestermair: Where does the name Westermair come from?
The last name Westermair is thought to have originated in Germany. It is quite uncommon today, with just a few hundred people having the surname. The largest concentration of Westermairs today appears to be in Germany, though there are also a small number of people with the name in the United States, Austria, and Switzerland.
The most common version of the Westermair name in Germany is Westermaier, with people living in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Berlin having the surname. Those living in Austria have the last name Westermayer, and people living in the United States tend to have the last name Westermeier.
Ancestry records indicate that many people with the name Westermair have family roots in the regions of Germany where the name is most common, meaning that people with the last name likely immigrated to other countries in recent history. Whether this is the case with individuals currently living in the US, Austria, and Switzerland, or if these countries are the home of recent immigrants, is unclear from the available data.
As with other surnames, the popularity of the name Westermair has changed over time. Despite its origins in Germany, the name appears to be becoming less common, with fewer people having the surname than in past decades. Despite this, those who do have the last name Westermair appear to be proud of their Germanic heritage.
Variations of the surname Westermair
The surname Westermair is originated from Old English/German language and is very common amongst families in both the United States and Europe. Traditionally the surname is pronounced /ˈwestərmʌɚ/ and is a combination of two words: 'West' and 'Mair'.
The common variants, spellings and surnames of Westermair are: Westermeyer, Wistermair, Weichermair, Westermayer, Westmayer, Westmeyer, Westmann, Westemeier, Westmeir, Westermairr, Westmaire, Wescotmair, Wiztermair, Westmar and Wistermeyer.
The variants and spellings of Westermair emerged mainly due to the slow, gradual changes in pronunciation over the years which caused differences among different dialects and languages. For example: Westermeyer is the combination of the words ‘West’ and ‘Meier’ and is rooted in the German language. Similarly, Westermayer stands for the combination of the words ‘West’ and ‘Mayer’ and is also known as the German variant.
Due to migration across different countries and intermarriages, various derivative surnames based on Westermair have emerged, such as Westerman, Westman, Westemeyer, Wistermann, Westmanns, Westemeier, Westmeir, Westermairr, Westmaire, Wescotmair, Wiztermair and Wistermeyer.
Throughout the ages, Westermair has been used as a hereditary surname and has been commonly passed down from one generation to the other. As a result of this it is now seen throughout many countries and languages including Germany, Austria, United States, the United Kingdom, Scotland, and Canada.
Famous people with the name Westermair
- Gabrielle Westermair: German model and TV presenter.
- Christian Westermair: Austrian politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Austrian People's Party.
- André Westermair: Austrian film director, actor, writer, editor, composer and cinematographer.
- Magdalena Westermair: Austrian actress and television presenter.
- Robert Westermair: Austrian politician, entrepreneur and diplomat who served as Austrian ambassador to the United States.
- Kyra Westermair: Austrian actress.
- Albin Westermair: Austrian poet, playwright, and novelist.
- Anton Westermair: Austrian actor, director, and theater manager.
- Paul Westermair: Austrian sculptor.
- Michael Westermair: Austrian poet and writer.