Surname Wiedmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Wiedmayr: What does the surname Wiedmayr mean?
The last name WIEDMAYR is of German origin, most likely coming from Silesia and Bavaria. It is a compound of two distinct words, “wied” which is an old German word for “meadow” or “pasture”, and “mayr” which is a variation of the German word “meier” meaning “farmer” or “steward”. Together, the combined WIEDMAYR roughly translates to “pasture steward” or “meadow farmer”.
It is believed that these families were employed by the more wealthy landowners to manage their land and livestock, while also monitoring the quality of their pastures. Due to the agricultural occupations most of these families were involved in, the WIEDMAYR family probably spread out throughout the countryside, with many members soon becoming farmers on their own, or opening up their own businesses.
Today, there are still many different branches of the WIEDMAYR family in Germany and Austria. While some branches are largely based in the countryside, like during the family's early days, there are many who have moved to the larger cities and towns, having expanded their businesses or started their own.
Overall, the WIEDMAYR family carried on the hardworking tradition of its ancestors, transitioning from stewards of the land to entrepreneurs and business-owners. The love for the land passed down through the generations still shows strongly in the values and work ethic of the modern WIEDMAYR family, no matter where they reside.
Order DNA origin analysisWiedmayr: Where does the name Wiedmayr come from?
The last name WIEDMAYR is a historically German surname. It is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is also found in other countries with populations of German origin such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina.
The name WIEDMAYR is an example of an occupational last name, originating and likely derived from the German word "Widmann," which literally means "widow's man." Its original bearers were stewards who served widows, likely managing their estates. Over time, the meaning of the last name changed slightly, adapting to the relative wealth of the bearers, and describing a businessperson or manager of some kind.
In terms of emigration, Wiedmayr families can be found to have moved to the United States around the 19th century. They are likely to have come from Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and/or Silesia, in southern Germany. In terms of ancestry, the last name Wiedmayr is of Germanic origin.
It is believed that the Wiedmayr family remained armored in their old social virtues of honesty, loyalty, and commitment over the centuries. This German last name is said to have a noble and distinguished history among European families and is still found today among generations of European, American, and Canadian families.
Variations of the surname Wiedmayr
The surname Wiedmayr is a German and Austrian surname which has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Wiedmaier, Wiedmair, Wiedmeyra, Wiedmayer, Wiedmeyer, Wiedmaiers and Wiedmayers.
In the German language the ‘Wied’ component of the name is derived from the word ‘wieder’, which is translated to mean 'again', 'repeat', or 'back'. In some cases, the ‘Wied’ prefix of this surname may also be derived from the German word 'weide', which is translated to mean a meadow near a river, or a hayfield. The ‘Mayer’ component of the surname is derived from the word 'Meier', which is adapted from 'Maire', which translates to mean a mayor, head of a town, or the highest civil authority of a commune.
Variations of this name can also be found throughout Europe, with many individuals and families having changed the spelling of the name over the years in order to better fit the language and customs of their own country. For example, the French version of this surname is ‘Wiedmaire’, the Dutch version is ‘Wiedmeyer’, the Czech version is ‘Viedmayr’, and the Slovak version is ‘Videmajer’.
Therefore, when looking for family members with the surname Wiedmayr, it is important to consider all possible spellings and variations of the name in order to ensure that the right records and relations are tracked down.
Famous people with the name Wiedmayr
- John Wiedmayr: American football running back who played for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.
- Alfred Wiedmayr: German poet and novelist who wrote stories and poems about traditional customs in rural Bavaria.
- Christian Wiedmayr: Austrian lawyer and politician, who was a member of the European Parliament, and held a number of government offices in the Austrian government.
- Theodor Wiedmayr: German opera singer and actor, best known for his roles in several operas by Johann Strauss and Richard Wagner.
- Marko Wiedmayr: German speed skater who competed in several Olympic games from 2002 to 2006.
- Josef Wiedmayr: Austrian ski jumper who won a bronze medal at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1975.
- Uwe Wiedmayr: German freestyle skier who is a multiple gold medalist in the freestyle skiing-aerials discipline.
- Christina Wiedmayr: Austrian alpine skier who competed at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Martin Wiedmayr: Austrian professional ice hockey player who plays in Sweden’s Hockey Allsvenskan.
- Franz Wiedmayr: Austrian physicist who developed the first transistor amplifier.
- Waltraud Wiedmayr: Austrian painter and sculptor famous for her surrealist sculptures.
- Günther Wiedmayr: Austrian politician and diplomat, and a former member of the European Parliament.