Surname Zinsmeister - Meaning and Origin
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Zinsmeister: What does the surname Zinsmeister mean?
The last name Zinsmeister is of German origin and is believed to mean “Controller of Taxes” or “Tax Official”. This type of occupation was an important part of feudalism and late middle ages, while the title was initially used to refer to the ruler’s representative responsible for collecting taxes and overseeing tax laws. By the 16th century, the title was used for any officials who deal with money and taxes.
The Zinsmeister family is believed to have descended from this role, having its roots in the Middle Ages and its roots in Germany. The Zinsmeister family was likely involved in either taxation or financial activities, making it one of the oldest families of professionals in Germany.
Today, the name is still prevalent in Germany and many other European countries, with many carrying the last name Zinsmeister. It is believed to be the 82,200th most common name in the world, and the 8,785th most common German family name. It is also popular in France, Austria and Hungary, as well as other parts of central and Eastern Europe.
For those from a Zinsmeister family, it is a source of pride to carry the name and its significance of great history and being part of a rich ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisZinsmeister: Where does the name Zinsmeister come from?
The last name Zinsmeister is a German surname that is quite uncommon today. The name is derived from the the German word ‘Zinsmeister’, meaning ‘bailiff’, and is likely to have emerged during the Middle Ages when many Germanic nobles appointed bailiffs to collect their rents and taxes.
Today, the surname is much rarer than it was several hundred years ago. According to World Names Public Profiler, the last name Zinsmeister is most common in Germany, primarily concentrated in the southern and western regions, as well as in Luxemburg. It is less common in the United States, with many Zinsmeisters in the Southwestern states and primarily used by those of German ancestry.
However, despite its relative rarity, Zinsmeister is still carried on in some parts of the world. For example, you’ll still find people with the name in Germany, Austria, and the United States. For those of German descent in America, Zinsmeister remains a deeply personal and familial surname, symbolizing a connection to the past and reverence for their German heritage.
Variations of the surname Zinsmeister
The surname Zinsmeister is a German name of occupational origin, referring to someone who managed moneys and levies. It can also be spelled as Zinzmeister, Zinzmeiszter, Zintzmeister, Zintz Hesser, Zintzenmeister, Zintsmester, and Zintzmister.
Variants of the surname are also found with other spellings and regional adaptations, including Singmeister, Singmaister, Singmeisser, Sinnmeister, Sinnmaister, Ziemsmeier, Zeinsmeister, and Sanders.
Over time, the spelling and phonological form of the name has varied, especially when emigrants adapted the surname into their adopted language, creating variant forms such as Zinsmister (French), Destantis (Italian), and Sintestal (Portuguese). Speakers of Dutch also adopted the surname as Zinsmeester.
The surname is also found in a variety of regional dialectal spellings and forms, including Zientzmaister, Zinzmeyer, Zinsmasster, Zintzmausser, Zintsmeist, Zintzmeister, Zinzmeyser, and Zinsmeister.
In some cases the name was Anglicized to Singmaster, Shingmate, Shingmaster, Sindsmeister, or Sinsmaster. This variety in name forms is due to the many languages of the different regions across Germany and other parts of Europe.
Finally, Zinsmeister can also act as a surname in its own right, with individuals using it without any variant spellings.
Famous people with the name Zinsmeister
- Albert Zinsmeister: American football coach
- Arthur Zinsmeister: German Catholic priest, writer, and philosopher
- Cory Zinsmeister: American theatre producer
- German Zinsmeister: Austrian abstract sculptor
- Johann Zinsmeister: German miniaturist and illuminator
- Jonathan Zinsmeister: American mixologist and restaurateur
- Joseph Zinsmeister: Austrian zoologist
- Karl Zinsmeister: American government official
- Loretta Zinsmeister: American actress
- Nick Zinsmeister: American entrepreneur
- Robert Zinsmeister: American investment banker
- Samuel Zinsmeister: American chemical engineer
- William Zinsmeister: American businessman, philanthropist, and social activist