Surname Masmeier - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Masmeier: What does the surname Masmeier mean?
The last name Masmeier is a German surname. It is derived from the Middle High German word “meizere” which means a magistrate, judge or ruler. The suffix “-er” was added to the name to give it the meaning “someone who is the master." This indicates that whoever originally bore the surname Masmeier was in a position of power and authority.
Masmeier is a fairly rare name, and is usually found in Germany and other German-speaking countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. In western Germany, the name is especially common in the regions around Rhine-Moselle, Thuringia, and Lower Saxony.
Today, those bearing the Masmeier surname are likely to be descendants of those original medieval rulers and magistrates. They may come from a long line of influential politicians, judges, mayors, barons, and more. They likely share a sense of pride in their ancestral roots and take their duties and responsibilities in life seriously.
Order DNA origin analysisMasmeier: Where does the name Masmeier come from?
The last name Masmeier is most likely of German origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from a given name that was itself derived from the name Mathias.
The name Masmeier is still very common in Germany today. According to records, it is the 643rd most common German surname. It is particularly prevalent in Middle and Southern Germany. Across the border in Austria, it's the 845th most common surname.
The Masmeiers have spread across the globe, particularly to the United States. At the time of the last census, the name Masmeier was the 18,369th most popular surname in the US. It is especially prevalent in Texas.
The name Masmeier is also common in Poland, Austria, and other Slavic countries. It is far less popular in England. Overall, anyone with the last name Masmeier can be sure to be a member of a relatively large international family.
Variations of the surname Masmeier
The surname Masmeier is typically found in German-speaking countries. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name ‘Meier’, and literally translated as ‘Masterson’ or ‘Little Master’. Over time, this name has evolved and taken different spellings and other variants.
One of the earliest variants of Masmeier is Meyrer. This is a German spelling which is more commonly seen among Dutch populations. Other spellings include Meijer, Meyer, Myer and Meier. Sometimes, the spelling of the name can appear as Maasmeier, Maßmeier, Maasmeijer or Massmeier, as a result of phonetic changes.
Several surnames derived from Masmeier, are seen among different national cultures. The Germanic form of 'Meyer' is favoured among Dutch, Danish and Norwegian populations, while the Czech spelling Mašek is more popular. Other Czech derivatives include Maška, Mašek, Mašková and Maškovi.
Some variations of this surname have adapted to the cultural norms of the adopted countries. For instance, Irish variants such as Meehan, Meegan, Meeghan and MacMahon, may have come from the anglicised form of the name, Maas. The Spanish adaptation of the name is Mesa, while in Portugal, the name is often transcribed as Meireles or Meire.
Therefore, Masmeier is a surname with plenty of rich history and cultural significance, and many variants and spellings. Its presence can be found in many places around the world, and beyond.
Famous people with the name Masmeier
- Niklas Maßmeier: Former German professional football player and World Cup winner.
- Jens Maßmeier: German radio presenter and actor.
- Jan Maßmeier: German footballer and manager.
- Uli Maßmeier: Former German professional football player.
- Helmut Maßmeier: German actor and voice actor.
- Kurt Maßmeier: Former German professional football player.
- Willi Maßmeier: Former German professional football player.
- Stefan Maßmeier: German drummer.
- Frank Maßmeier: German (anti-)authoritarian writer and philosopher.
- Ernst Maßmeier: German journalist and war correspondent.
- Sophokles Maßmeier: Greek philosophical writer.
- Herman Maßmeier: German author and poet.
- Chris Maßmeier: German fashion designer.
- Tim Maßmeier: German video game designer and entrepreneur.
- Clemens Maßmeier: Austrian politician.
- Erich Maßmeier: German singer and actor.
- Harald Maßmeier: German football manager.
- Julia Maßmeier: German film producer and director.
- Jürgen Maßmeier: German musician and composer.
- Christian Maßmeier: German businessman and investor.