Surname Mein - Meaning and Origin
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Mein: What does the surname Mein mean?
The last name Mein has German roots and likely originated in the Middle Ages. The literal meaning of the name is ‘mine’ or ‘my own’ and it is most likely an occupational surname for someone who worked in or owned a mine. The name also probably originated as an indicator of ownership, as was often the case with medieval European surnames.
The first recorded instance of the Mein surname dates back to 1238 in what is now Germany. During this time, the country was divided into small territories governed by local rulers, so there isn’t one single origin of the name. Over time, the name has spread and can be found in several different countries, including the United States.
Because the name likely originated from the occupation of mining, the coat of arms associated with the Mein name often contains an image of a pickaxe or hammer and a block of stone, along with other symbols such as a shield and a helmet. Since the name was also likely used as an indicator of ownership, two hands holding a shield are sometimes used in the coat of arms.
The Mein name is a relatively rare and unique one, and is an interesting piece of family history that can be traced back centuries. It has certainly traveled far from its origin and is a reminder of the Middle Ages, when surnames were first being used in Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisMein: Where does the name Mein come from?
The last name Mein is most commonly found in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly Germany. While the name itself has been around for centuries, records of the Mein family first began in Bavaria, Germany in the 1500s.
Today, the vast majority of people bearing the Mein surname live in Germany, with a sizeable population also residing in Austria and Switzerland. Mein is considered to be one of the most common surnames in Germany, and data indicates that it is among the 150 most frequent surnames in the country.
Outside of Europe, Mein is found distributed throughout the world. The most notable populations are in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries have historically had strong German-speaking or German-immigrant demographics, meaning many families who bear the Mein name likely have European origins.
Despite the wide geographical dispersion of the Mein family name, it still finds the heaviest concentrations of people bearing the name in the German-speaking parts of the world. That being said, with the prevalence of genealogical databases and ease of international travel, many individuals with the Mein surname may now be scattered all over the globe.
Variations of the surname Mein
The surname Mein is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German name, Maino which was a personal name composed of two elements; the latinized form magin meaning ‘great’, and hild meaning ‘battle’. Common variants of Mein include Meinke, Meine, Meinel, Meins, Main, Maines and Meinecke.
Meinke is derived from the old German name Maino and could also be spelled Meineke or Mineke as well as Mei(n)ke. Meine is a variant of the German surname Mein and is sometimes spelled Meyne or Mine. Meinel is another spelling variation of the German name Mein. It is most commonly found in the German-American populations throughout the United States. Meins is another variant of the surname, which is also spelled Myers.
Main is an English variant of the German surname Mein and is most often used in North America today. Maines is derived from the German surname Main and is most commonly found in families who have recently immigrated to the United States from Germany.
Meinecke is another spelling variation of the German surname Mein. It is most commonly found in German families living in North America. There are also multiple spelling variations of the surname such as Meien, Meinich, Meier, Meires, Meierich, Meinhart and Mayne.
Famous people with the name Mein
- Maria Mein: a German impressionist painter known for her landscape paintings.
- Joseph Mein: a 19th century artist and engraver from northern Germany who specialized in engravings of realistic landscape paintings.
- Friedrich Mein: a German physician and anatomist who wrote the first textbook on histology.
- Fran Mein: a professional golfer from England who competed in the 1926 Open Championship.
- Emil Mein: a German painter and teacher who founded an institution in Berlin for the education of aspiring artists.
- Charles Mein: a Scottish journalist and author of the late 19th century who wrote books about Scotland and the Scottish people.
- Johann Mein: a German theologian and classical philologist who wrote Deacon Paul, a treatise on the life of the Apostle Paul.
- William Mein: an American politician and member of the Wyoming House of Representatives.
- Anne Mein: a contemporary contemporary dance choreographer and director of the ballet company in Australia.
- Barbara Mein: a German classically trained actress who starred in several films during the 1970s and 1980s.