Surname Winkelmayer - Meaning and Origin

Winkelmayer: What does the surname Winkelmayer mean?

The last name Winkelmayer is a German surname of occupational origin, likely derived from the Middle High German word "wenkel" and the Old High German word "mair". These words mean "harness maker" or "maker of leather straps".

The Winkelmayer surname evolved over time and is now found around the world. In Germany, the name is originally associated with the region of Franconia and the Palatinate.

The Winkelmayer surname likely refers to a family of harness makers. Historically, the trade of a harness maker was of great importance in rural German villages and towns. Leather straps and harnesses could be used to hold a plow, drag a wagon, or tie a draft animal to a carriage.

A harness maker was highly sought after in rural Germany, as these leather items had many practical uses and most people needed at least some leather goods at certain points in their lives.

The Winkelmayer surname demonstrates the strength and value of craftsmanship-based professions throughout German history. The surname is thus deeply interconnected to many aspects of German culture, both historically and in the modern day.

Winkelmayer: Where does the name Winkelmayer come from?

The last name Winkelmayer is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. In both countries, it is among the most common surnames. In modern-day Germany, roughly 11 in every 1000 people have the name Winkelmayer. In Austria, the figure is slightly higher at 13 in every 1,000.

The name dates back to pre-Medieval times, when many families took surnames that referenced their trade, profession, or place of origin. Winkelmayer is thought to have originally referred to a family who lived near or worked in a shop or marketplace.

Today, Winkelmayer is a popular surname in parts of southern and western Germany, and is quite common in the former West Germany. It is significantly less common in North Germany, where it is more likely for someone to have a Slavic surname. In Austria, the name appears all across the country, with a larger concentration in the south and east.

Recent immigrants to other countries from the German-speaking world have brought the name with them, and it can now be found in North America, South America, and Australia, as well as other European countries.

Variations of the surname Winkelmayer

The surname Winkelmayer is of German origin and has many spellings and variants including Winklemair, Winklemayer, Winkelmeier, Winkelmaier, Winkelmair, Winkelmaire, Winkelmann, Winkelmayr, Winkelmayer, and Wingelmeyer. Many of these variants originated from the Rhineland Palatinate in the early 15th century.

One of the earliest records of the Winkelmayer name was Ulrich Winkelmeyer, the son of Conrad Wincklemeyer and Amalie Haister, who was christened on the 4th of June 1610 in Francishofen church, Bavaria, Germany.

In the United States, variations in spelling of the Winkelmayer name were mainly due to incorrect translations from German versions of the name. For instance, many assumed that the name Winkelmayer was a spelling mistake of the original name and thus multiple variations of the name emerged, all with slightly different spellings.

In the United Kingdom, the Winkelmayer surname was mainly found in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire counties. Here the name was spelled in various ways, the most common variant being Winklemayer, which was the county's most common spelling in the 19th century. The Winklemayer name was also found in Oxfordshire, with its most common spelling being Winklemair.

In France, the highest concentration of the Winkelmayer name is found in the Alsace region. Here, the most common spelling variation for the name is Winkelmaier.

The Winkelmayer surname can also be found in Canada, Australia and other parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Winkelmayer

• Andre Winkelmayer: Austrian fencer who competed in the individual sabre event at the 1964 Summer Olympics
• Clare Winkelmayer: American artist known for her work in 3D media and photography
• Franklin Winkelmayer: former Argentine football defender
• Galina Winkelmayer: Ukrainian figure skater who represented her country in the 1994 Winter Olympics
• Herbert Winkelmayer: former Austrian footballer and manager
• Matija Winkelmayer: Croatian chess master and theorist
• Paul Winkelmayer: Czechoslovak ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics
• Pauline Winkelmayer: American landscape photographer and experimental filmmaker
• Peter Winkelmayer: Austrian former alpine skier
• Tom Winkelmayer: American actor best known for his role in the TV series "Dawson's Creek"

Other surnames

Winkelmaier