Surname Meierhofer - Meaning and Origin
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Meierhofer: What does the surname Meierhofer mean?
Meierhofer is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word 'meier', meaning a farmer who was in charge of a large estate. Furthermore, 'hofer' is a suffix indicating an occupational name, which indicates that the person bearing this surname was likely a member of the landed gentry. This surname was likely adopted by individuals who worked for a nobleman as a land-manager or as a tenant farmer or both.
The surname Meierhofer may be found primarily in the areas of southern Bavaria, and the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is believed that the first person to bear this name may have been a 'meier', or mayor of a town or village who was appointed by their local nobleman. The nobleman may have granted the 'meier' ornament or land that was to be used as his title; thus, this 'meier' took the name of the land they served - Meierhofer.
Throughout the centuries, the occupants of the modern day of Meierhofer have remained largely the same, even if the title and its responsibilities have changed over time. For instance, the modern day 'meier' is now responsible for a variety of municipal duties within the community such as street cleaning and repairs.
Tracing the origin of the surname Meierhofer can provide insight into the history of a particular region and its people. It can also shed light on the history of Germany as a whole and bring to life the stories of those individuals from centuries past who shaped the history and traditions of a place.
Order DNA origin analysisMeierhofer: Where does the name Meierhofer come from?
The last name Meierhofer is most commonly found in parts of Germany, especially in the south of the country. It is also found in Austria and parts of Switzerland. In Germany, the name is primarily found in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia. In Austria, the name is primarily found in the East Tyrol region and the state of Vienna.
The origin of the name Meierhofer is derived from the old Bavarian word 'meier', which means 'farmer' or 'a peasant farmer' in English. As such, it is likely that the original bearer of the name was either a peasant farmer or someone who was connected to farming in some way.
The name is associated with many other last names in Germany which contain the root 'meier', such as Meierling, Meiers, Meierick, Meierbacher, and so on. These names are all derived from the same root and indicate a nearby connection to farming, as German immigrants spread out throughout Europe and the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the last name Meierhofer is still primarily concentrated in Germany and the neighboring countries. According to the 2020 surname distribution statistics from the German Federal Statistical Office, the name was most common in the Munich regional government district. There, it was the 1,076th most common name.
In the United States, the name is slightly less common. According to the United States Census Bureau, only 74 people in the United States bear the last name Meierhofer. Most of them live in California or New York, where the name is mostly found in the areas with highly concentrated German-American populations.
Variations of the surname Meierhofer
The surname Meierhofer is an occupational name and may have originated from the Middle High German word “Meier”, which means an official responsible for managing land. There are many variants of this surname, including, but not limited to: Meierhoefer, Meierhofen, Mayerhofer, Mayrhofer, Mayrhofen, Maierhofer, Mayrhoffer, Maierhoffer, Meiwerhofer, Meyrerhofer, Mayerhoffer, Meyerhofer, Meyerhoffer, Mayerhofen, Mayerhoffen, Mayrhoffen, Maeuerhofer, Maierhofer, Mehrhofer, Meirhofer and Meyhofer.
Surnames that are believed to be of a similar origin to Meierhofer are Metzger, Baecker, Heater, Miller, Pfister, Ratzel, Roth, Schirm, Schmied, Speck, Steiner, Weber and Weitz.
Surnames that are believed to be associated with the Meierhofer surname include Meinhof, Mehlhoff, Meinx, Meilauer, Meinau, Meinberg, Mellon, Mercker, Mersich, Merziger, Messer, Metz, Meuer, Mickel, Miller and Muhl.
Meierhofer is a common surname among German families and is also found in other countries around the world as well, such as the United States of America and Canada. The variants of this surname are common for both German and non-German families of the same origin.
In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Meierhofer include Meierhoefer, Mayerhofer, Mayrhofer, Meyrerhofer, Meyerhofer, Mayerhofen, Mayerhoffen, Mayrhoffen, Maeuerhofer, Maierhofer, Mehrhofer, Meirhofer and Meyhofer. In addition, related surnames of Meierhofer include Meinhof, Mehlhoff, Meinx, Meilauer, Meinau, Meinberg, Mellon, Mercker, Mersich, Merziger, Messer, Metz, Meuer, Mickel, Miller and Muhl.
Famous people with the name Meierhofer
- Annina Meierhofer: Swiss film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer
- William Meierhofer: Canadian jazz trombonist
- Edwin Meierhofer: German-born, Portuguese playwright and the author of several pieces of Victorian-style melodrama
- Alois Meierhofer: Austrian figure skater
- Marion Meierhofer: former Swiss alpine skier
- Anton Meierhofer: Austrian politician
- Florian Meierhofer: German former professional footballer
- Maria-Theresia Meierhofer: German soprano
- Hermann Meierhofer: German hockey player
- Max Meierhofer: Swiss painter, engraver and draftsman