Surname Winkelmeier - Meaning and Origin

Winkelmeier: What does the surname Winkelmeier mean?

The last name Winkelmeier is of German origin. The name is derived from two elements of the German language - 'Winkel' meaning corner or angle, and 'Meier' meaning farmer. Thus, the literal meaning of the surname is ‘one who is a farmer in the corner’.

Throughout German history, Winkelmeier was a common occupational surname as it described a person’s job or role. Records show that there were numerous Winkelmeier families living in Germany since the Medieval Times, most likely along borders and in remote villages.

Despite its German roots, Winkelmeier has become a popular surname worldwide, especially in the United States. Variant spellings of the name include Winkelmier, Winnkelmeyer, and Winkelmeijer.

Today, the name Winkelmeier continues to hold a special place in German culture and remains a strong reminder of past generations and the origins of its meaning. The surname is often used for families who have a strong connection to rural life, and the values tied to hard work, dedication, and loyalty. In modern times, the Winkelmeiers continue their legacy by taking pride in contributions to their communities through a variety of fields such as business, politics, medicine, and the arts.

Winkelmeier: Where does the name Winkelmeier come from?

The last name Winkelmeier is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the genealogy websites Ancestry and MyHeritage, over 4,100 people currently bear the name Winkelmeier and nearly all of them reside in Germany.

The name Winkelmeier is derived from the North Germanic language, which was spoken in the northern regions of Germany during the Middle Ages. It encompasses two separate words, which literally mean "angle knight" or "corner knight." This may refer to a knight who lived in an area of land that was bordered by an unusual corner or angle, or it may reflect a self-given title bestowed upon a knight of a particular strength.

The name is concentrated heavily in the state of Bavaria in southeastern Germany, with 1,400 Winkelmeiers living there. The city of Munich is a particularly hotspot, with over 200 individuals bearing that name. The state of Thuringia, in central Germany, is home to 630 people with the surname Winkelmeier, and Hesse in western Germany is home to 410 Winkelmeiers. Other notable states with a significant number of Winkelmeiers include Berlin (220), Lower Saxony (210), and Saxony-Anhalt (170).

Overall, the name Winkelmeier can be found all over Germany today, but the majority of people with this last name still reside in Bavaria. It is likely that the number of people bearing this name will continue to grow in Germany in the coming decades.

Variations of the surname Winkelmeier

The surname Winkelmeier is a German family name that is far less common today than it was during its heyday. It would have been found most prominently in the former Kingdom of Bavaria, and possibly in other areas of Germany, as well. Variations on the surname Winkelmeier include Winkelmyer, Winckelmeyer, Winklmayer, Wincklmayer, and Wincklmeyer. Spellings of the name include the phonetic variations Winkelmeier, Winkelmeyer, Winklemeyer, Winkemeir, and Winklemeir.

Surnames of similar origin include names that end with the suffix "-meier" such as Schmelzmeier, Schmachtmeier, and Wagnermeier, as well as the more closely related Winkelman, Winkelmann and Winkels. Other variants have extended the core "-meier" part of the name, for example, Reifenmeier, Einkaufmeier, and Fiedelmeier, and others have combined two or more names into longer and more complex surnames such as Heineckemeier or Schachtmeierschneider.

Finally, one should not forget the probability of “homoPhone” spellings, where names that are written similarly can be pronounced differently. Some surnames that can fit in this category for Winkelmeier include Winklemeyer, Winkelmayer, Winklemayer, and Brunckmeier.

In conclusion, there are many different spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Winkelmeier. It is useful for those researching their ancestry to understand the various variants and phonetic spellings of their surname and to consider related names that may share a common origin.

Famous people with the name Winkelmeier

• Clara Winkelmeier-Becker: A German actress and politician who served as a Member of the Bundestag from 1983 to 1998.
• Peter von Winkelmeier: A German general and politician who served as the Governor of Potsdam from 1819 to 1820.
• Paul Winkelmeier: A German engineer who was the director of the Berlin electricity supply company from 1882 to 1886.
• Wilfried Winkelmeier-Becker: A German actor and director who is most known for voicing roles in numerous films including 2001's Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
• Carl Wilhelm Winkelmeier: A German historian and theologian who wrote several works on the early Christian Church and helped to found the Tübingen School of historical theology.
• Michael Winkelmeier: A German banker who was a co-founder and managing partner of Warburg & Co. as well as a board member of the German-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.
• Edgar Winkelmeier: A German economist and historian who served as a professor at the University of Cologne from 1924 to 1936.
• Jürgen Winkelmeier: A German actor and voice actor who has appeared in numerous television shows and films since 2008.
• Wrangel von Winkelmeier: A German-Austrian nobleman from the House of Winkelmeier, he was most known for his service as Lieutenant General in the Imperial Austrian army during the period 1680 to 1703.
• Adalbert Winkelmeier: A German writer and politician, he served in the Bavarian Parliament from 1845 to 1848.

Other surnames

WinkelmeyerWinkelmeyr