Surname Bertelsmeier - Meaning and Origin

Bertelsmeier: What does the surname Bertelsmeier mean?

The last name Bertelsmeier is believed to be of German origin and is primarily found in Germany and areas of German settlement. The surname dates back to at least the 16th century, when it was common to name people by their occupation, which in this case was ‘Bertels Meyers’ or ‘Bertels Meier’, which translates to ‘Bertels Merchant’. It is believed that the holders of this surname were people who owned and ran a store or shop for selling goods.

The surname Bertelsmeier is still very common throughout various regions of Germany today. Because it was such a commonly used name, it has evolved over the centuries to include many variations and derivatives, including Bertelsmeyer, Bertelmayer, Bartelsmayer, Beerlesmeyer, Bersteimayer, and Bartholomäus.

Many people of the Bertelsmeier surname have emigrated over the centuries, with many of them arriving in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Bertelsmeier family surname is still found throughout the United States decades later, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. It is also believed that many members of the original Bertelsmeier family are still living in Germany.

Bertelsmeier: Where does the name Bertelsmeier come from?

The last name Bertelsmeier can be found in many parts of Europe, especially in Germany where it is most common. According to the surname database, Meyer - Bertelsmeier is the 4,740th most common name in the country. It can also be found in the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, and Austria.

In Germany, the last name Bertelsmeier is thought to have originated in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia, where it remains most common today. Smaller concentrations of the surname are present in the neighboring regions of Saxony, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria, though less so in these areas.

Outside of Germany, the last name Bertelsmeier is primarily found in the Netherlands, where it is the 25,058th most common name. It is also present in significantly smaller numbers in neighboring countries such as Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, and Austria.

The surname has also been present in the United States since the late 1800s, with the total population of of people with the surname estimated to be in the thousands. It is most common in New York, where it is the 8,039th most popular name, as well as in Florida, Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois.

Variations of the surname Bertelsmeier

Bertelsmeier is a German surname originating in Germany. Variants of this surname range from Bertelsmeir to Bertelemeyer with countless other variations in between. Common alternate spellings of the Bertelsmeier name include Bertelmesier, Bertelemeier, and Bertelsmeier.

The various spellings of the surname appear to derive from a combination of two German words, "Bertel" and "Meier". Generally, the surname is translated to mean 'leader of the great house' or 'farmer/lord of the estate'.

Alternative surnames of the same origin include Bertelsman, Baertelsmeier, Barthalmeier, and Betchelmeier. Occasionally, surnames can vary depending on the region. A common variation in the upper Bavarian region is Baerteelsmeir as opposed to the more popular dialect variant seen elsewhere.

The Bertelsmeier surname is thought to have originated from several prominent German families during the Medieval period. During the late 1800s, the surname started to appear in various parts of Europe, moving from Germany to Austria, Switzerland, Russia and beyond.

A few variations of the surname have made their way into America and Canada via immigrants from Germany. Common surnames of this type include Bertelemyer, Bertelmyer, and Bertelsmyer. These variants of the name primarily found in the Midwest and the Northeastern states.

Famous people with the name Bertelsmeier

• Benjamin Bertelsmeier, a German musician
• Dirk Bertelsmeier, a German footballer
• Josie Maran, an American model and actress
• Julie Bertelsmeier, a German professional tennis player
• Paul Bertelsmeier, a German auto racing driver
• Peter Bertelsmeier, a German handball player
• Sophia Bertelsmeier, a German model
• Stanislaus Bertelsmeier, a German sculptor
• Wilfried Bertelsmeier, a German voice actor

Other surnames

Bertelsmeyer