Surname Meinardt - Meaning and Origin
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Meinardt: What does the surname Meinardt mean?
The surname Meinardt is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Meinhard. The name Meinhard is composed of two elements, “mein” meaning “my” and “hard” meaning “bold”, “hardy”, “strong”, or “valiant.” Therefore, the “Meinardt” surname means “my courageous.” This surname is likely to be the nickname of a ancestor who was known for their courageous character..
Meinardt is rarely found in the United States. It has its roots in Northern Germany and is most commonly found in the former East Germany, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The surname Meinardt has a long German tradition, but the meaning behind its name has grown distant and obscure over the years. In the United States it stands as a reminder of the proud German people and the strong, courageous qualities they possessed.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinardt: Where does the name Meinardt come from?
The last name Meinardt is most common in Germany today - there are over 9,000 people with this surname. It is believed to be of German origin, derived from the Old German "meinhard" which can be translated to mean "strong, brave, and hardy". It is found mainly in the southwest and south of Germany, recognizable by the areas of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony-Anhalt.
The surname is also prevalent in the United States, where more than 3,200 people carry the name. This is likely due to German immigrants arriving in the 1800s and settling in areas such as Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, and California. It is also common in the Netherlands, primarily in southern parts of the country such as Limburg and North Brabant.
Elsewhere, the surname can be found from Austria to Australia, with smaller numbers in Switzerland, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, and even further afield. The numbers are quite low and in some places which can make tracing family connections harder, but with good research it is possible. The last name Meinardt is also quite rare in Eastern Europe - there are only a handful of individuals with this surname in countries like Poland and Russia.
Variations of the surname Meinardt
The surname Meinardt (pronounced "may-nardt") is of German origin, and is sometimes spelled variants such as Menardt, Mainardt, Menhardt, Mainhardt, and Meinar. In some cases the surname may also be spelled Meinart, Meynardt, or Meinhardt.
The name is derived from the personal German name Meinhard, which means "strong and brave". This name is found in Germany as early as the thirteenth century, and is also found in many other countries, including the United States and Canada.
Surnames similar to Meinardt include Meine, Meinert, Mennardt, Mehnardt, Meyer, Meyers and Mayers. The names might also include non-German variants such as Meninger, Minar, Mannardt, and Míneardt.
Other surnames with similar etymologies to Meinardt include Mehner, Meinzer, Meinerding, and Meinke. Meines, a Dutch variant, might also be found as a variant spelling.
The variants of the surname Meinardt may be found included in different spellings or even combined with other surname spellings such as Mannardt-Meinardt, where Mannardt is the primary surname. Different spellings can also further enhance the heritage of the surname, as the spellings of Meinardt in different countries and regions often indicate different cultural origins. For example, the spelling Meinhardt might be associated with German ancestry, while Meinardt might indicate French or Dutch ancestry.
Famous people with the name Meinardt
- Gabriele Meinardt: German high-jumper who competed in the 1997 and 2001 World Championships and the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Bart Meinardt: Belgian professional volleyball player and seven-times Belgian national league champion
- Wolfgang Meinardt: German decorative painter, graphic artist, and sculptor, best known for his sculptures for churches and civic monuments
- Bruno Meinardt: German engineer and former entrepreneur who served as chairman of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation from 1977 to 1996
- Lars Meinardt: German professional badminton player who competed in the 1979 and 1981 World Championships for the national team
- Julius von Meinardt: German haematologist and pathologist, responsible for groundbreaking research on the diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia
- Kenny Meinardt: American drummer and songwriter most known for his collaborations with rapper and singer Phora
- Heinrich von Meinardt: Prussian educator and liberal deputy in several imperial parliaments after 1867
- David Meinardt: Belgian cyclist twice winner of the Brabantse Pijl race, one of the five Belgian Classic cycle races
- Gianni Meinardt: Italian football forward who made five appearances for the Italian national team between 1978 and 1980