Surname Wolfmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Wolfmeier: What does the surname Wolfmeier mean?
Wolfmeier is a German surname derived from the Old German words “wolf” and “meier”. The word “wolf” or “wulf” is derived from the Proto-Germanic language and meant “wolf”. The word “meier” was often used as a prefix in Old High German to denote professional roles, such as sheriff or steward. Thus, Wolfmeier can be roughly translated to mean “wolf steward”.
The surname has most likely been used since the Middle Ages, when feudalism was still common in the German region. A Wolfmeier could have been a steward or bailiff employed by a lord to manage his fief, or a public office who was responsible for herd management, land conservation, hunting, and forest usage. Early records of the Wolfmeier family can be found in the Middle Ages, and the family is most likely of German peasant stock.
The Wolfmeier surname can still be found in present times, especially in Germany, Netherlands, and the United States. Most likely, the families with this surname were able to settle in these countries due to migration or immigration. It is possible that some of these immigrants kept their old occupations and held offices that were similar to the Wolfmeiers of the Medieval and Early Modern period.
Order DNA origin analysisWolfmeier: Where does the name Wolfmeier come from?
The last name Wolfmeier is most common today in Germany, with about 5,000 people sharing this surname. Wolfmeier is also present in Switzerland, Austria, and even in the United States, though the numbers are lower. That said, the amount of people sharing the name Wolfmeier in these countries is likely much higher due to married women, as the names often change after marriage.
An overview of where the name Wolfmeier originated from indicates that this was likely an occupational surname, given the 'meier' suffix, which means 'farmer'. It is likely derived from the German word 'wulf', which means 'wolf', and therefore alludes to someone who lived in an area where wolves were common and worked as a farmer.
In Germany, the highest concentration of people with the surname Wolfmeier is in the southwestern region of the country, in cities like Stuttgart and Munich. The area of Münster is also home to many families with the name. In Switzerland, the name is most common in the city of Zurich, and in Austria, the highest concentration is likely in Vienna and the surrounding area.
In the United States, there are only several hundred Wolfmeier families. The name is especially common in the Midwest and in the Northwest, with the highest concentrations being in Michigan and Indiana. The name is also present in other states across the country, such as California, Texas, and Florida.
Variations of the surname Wolfmeier
The variants, spellings, and surnames for the surname Wolfmeier come from German-speaking countries in Europe, especially Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Wolfmeier is most commonly spelled Wolfmeier, and is pronounced “vohlf-mee-er”. However, it can also be spelled Wolfermeier, Wolfmaier, Wolfmayr, Wolfmaire, and Wolfmeir.
Some of the related surnames include: Wolfmaier, Wolfmayr, Wolfmeir, Wulfmeier, Wulfmaier, Wulfmayr, Volfmaier, Volfmayr, and Volfmeier. All of these spellings are derived from the German words “wolf” and “maier”, which mean “friend”.
Some of the variants of the surname Wolfmeier include: Wolfmeyer, Wolfmeaur, Wolfmeer, Wolfmehr, Vulfmaier, Volftimeyer, Volfmyer, Volmer, Wulffmeir, Wolfermeer, Wolfermeier, Wulfmeier, Wulfmehr, Volfmehr, Volfmeer, Vulffmeuer, and Werlfmeyer. All of these variants are derived from the same root words as their Wolfmeier counterparts, “wolf” and “maier”.
The German surname Wolfmeier is also related to the surnames Wagner, Wagnermeir, and Wagnermaier. These surnames are derived from the German words “wag” and “maier”, which both mean “man”.
All of these variations of the surname Wolfmeier are derived from the same Germanic root words, “wolf” and “maier”, and all pertain to the same origin—the German-speaking countries of Europe.
Famous people with the name Wolfmeier
- Michael Wolfmeier: German contemporary artist, sculptor, and photographer.
- Steve Wolfmeier: Seatle-based architect, designer, and innovation consultant.
- Manfred Wolfmeier: German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace.
- Marie-Luise Wolfmeier: German sprinter and 800 m specialist.
- Primo Wolfmeier: German international football player who played for the German national team in the 1930s.
- Eva Wolfmeier: German psychologist and professor of educational and developmental psychology at the University of Frankfurt.
- Augusta Wolfmeier: German ultra-luxury fashion designer.
- Bob Wolfmeier: Grammy-award-winning American rock musician and producer.
- Carl Wolfmeier: German physicist and organic chemist. 10.Mathias Wolfmeier: German artist and sculptor.