Surname Wiesmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Wiesmeyer: What does the surname Wiesmeyer mean?
The last name Wiesmeyer is a German surname derived from two words: Wiese, meaning "meadow" or "pasture", and Meyer, which is a variant of the popular German name Maier, meaning "mayor" or "lord".
The Wiesmeyer surname is likely a patronymic name for someone who lived near or owned a meadow. Alternatively, it may have been used as an occupational surname to refer to a mayor or landowner of a meadow. It is likely that this name was first established in an area where meadows were common, such as the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany or parts of Switzerland.
The Wiesmeyer coat of arms features a red shield with a silver chevron outlined in gold, in which three roses of the same color are lined up. The shield rests on a blue and silver helmet, implying nobility or chivalric rank. Such coats of arms were granted to families whose members distinguished themselves in battle or who distinguished themselves in other ways.
The Wiesmeyer coat of arms is an important piece of German heraldic history and adds to the story of the people who originally bore the name. Those with this surname can take pride in their military, chivalric, or noble history, as well as their ties to the meadows of Europe that helped to create their ancestral roots.
Order DNA origin analysisWiesmeyer: Where does the name Wiesmeyer come from?
The last name Wiesmeyer is considered to be German in origin and is most commonly found today in the Western European countries of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is also found in the countries of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Italy. It is also found in certain regions of the United States, primarily in areas with large populations of German-American immigrants.
Several variations of the spelling of the name have appeared over time, including Wiesmeyer, Weismeyer, Wismeyer, Weisemeyer and Weesemeyer.
In Germany, the population of Wiesmeyer is quite high. It is the 4,722nd most common surname in Germany, with around 4,000 people having the name.
In Switzerland, the name is somewhat more common, ranking 637th in current usage. There are around 7,000 people recorded in Swiss records with either the Wiesmeyer spelling or one of its variations. It is small, but present in the Italian and Belgian records, while it is comparatively rarer in the Dutch records.
In the United States, the name Wiesmeyer is most commonly found in the Midwestern states of Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin, and in the Northeast states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is also found in California, Texas, and Oklahoma.
In general, the population of those with the last name Wiesmeyer is spread out across the United States and Europe, although highest concentrations are reported in Germany and Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Wiesmeyer
The surname Wiesmeyer has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of similar origins. The most common spelling of this surname is Wiesmeyer, which is a Germanic surname thought to have originated with the Germanic tribes who inhabited the area what is now Germany. Other variants of this surname include Weismeyer, Weisman, Wysmyer, Weismeyer, Weiszmayer and Weismeier, with each having similar derivations and overall meaning.
The surname Wiesmeyer can also be found in the Netherlands, where the spelling is often Weesmeijer. It is believed to have been brought to the Netherlands by Palatine Germans who emigrated to the country in the late 17th century. In the United States, Weismeyer and Weisman have become popularized alternative forms of the original German surname.
The various forms of the Wiesmeyer surname can also be found in England, Scotland, and Ireland. In England, Weismeier, Weiszmayer, Weismayer and Weisman can be found in records dating all the way back to the 17th century. In Scotland, Wysemeyer and Weismeyer can be found in records dating from the 19th century. Finally, in Ireland, Weismeyer, Weisman and Weismeier can be found among the records from the mid-to-late 19th century immigration of German and Irish immigrants to the country.
In conclusion, the Wiesmeyer surname has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of similar origins from all over Europe and beyond. From the Netherlands to the United States, the various forms of the name have been well documented and can be found in records dating from the 17th century onward.
Famous people with the name Wiesmeyer
- Dr. Gretchen Wiesmeyer, an American doctor, psychoanalyst, and assistant professor at UCSF and Stanford University.
- Paul Wiesmeyer, a retired astronaut and physicist who served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.
- Melissa Wiesmeyer, a German fashion designer and creative director behind the scene of IRFE Milano Couture.
- Karl Wiesmeyer, a former American Major General in the United States Army and a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal.
- John V. Wiesmeyer, a landscape photographer and marine engineer from California.
- Alice Wiesmeyer, a renowned American painter known for her vivid abstract expressionism.
- Kurt Wiesmeyer, a Palatine, Illinois-based attorney and former president of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association.
- Silvia Wiesmeyer, a German-born American artist, author, and educator.
- Tami Wiesmeyer, a former member of the US Women's National Soccer Team.
- Peter Wiesmeyer, a technology executive who served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at T-Mobile US.