Surname Neumayer - Meaning and Origin

Neumayer: What does the surname Neumayer mean?

The last name Neumayer is of German origin and is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and other regions of Central Europe. The literal meaning of Neumayer is “new mayer,” a reference to a person who was a mayor or magistrate in the Middle Ages. The Neumayer surname is derived from the German word meyer, which means “mayor.”

The Neumayer family was among the earliest known settlers of Germany, and their name can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The Neumayer name is thought to have originated in the Bavarian region of Germany. Over the centuries, members of the Neumayer family have served as mayors of towns, members of local or regional councils, and other prominent public figures.

Though there are many different variations of the Neumayer name, it generally remains a common German surname. It can still be found among many members of the German-speaking communities around Europe and in the United States. Despite its medieval beginnings, the Neumayer name has managed to endure through the centuries.

Neumayer: Where does the name Neumayer come from?

The last name Neumayer is most commonly found in Germany. It is also fairly widespread throughout Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe. In the United States, Neumayer is a more rare name; according to the US Census 2020, it only ranks at 26,426 out of 887,000 surnames. Chances are, if you encounter this name it will likely be in German-speaking countries.

Neumayer is derived from an old German word “Naumburger” or “naunburger”, which means a person from the town of Naumburg – located in the province of Saxony-Anhalt in the federal state of Germany. Neumayer is derived from the Latin word “nauma” which means “little in stature”. The last name was likely given to distinguish smaller individuals from the rest of the population.

The name is of particular significance to the Neumayer-Gesellschaft, a society founded by Johann Neumayer in 1874 to promote science and trade exchanges with German residents in foreign countries. The society still exists today and holds events to further their mission.

Due to the close geographic ties to Germany, the surname Neumayer remains most commonly found there and in nearby countries. However, with a more globalized world and increased migration, the name no doubt is spreading and can be encountered in other areas.

Variations of the surname Neumayer

The surname Neumayer has several variants and spellings that vary from country to country.

In Germany, the surname is mainly spelled as Neumayer, but can also be found as Neumäyer, Neumaier, Neumaiers, Neumaiern, Neumair, Neumaire, and Neumaier-Neumaier. In the Czech Republic, variants are spelled as Němajer and Němejr. In Switzerland, it may appear as Neumaier, Neumaire, and Neumair. In Austria, it is spelled Neumaier and Neumaire.

In England, the surname may be found as Naumayer, Naumayr, Naumayre, Neumayr, Neumeir, Neumeire, and Neumier. In France, it may appear as Neumayre, Neumaire, and Noumayer. In Estonia, variants are found as Neumsalu, Neimann, and Neumann. In Lithuania, the surname may be spelled as Neimanas.

The surname also has a few rarer surnames of a similar origin. In Germany, these can include Neuman, Neumann, Neumeier, Neumuller, Neuse, Neowald, Neymann, and Ney. In Dutch, it can be found as Neumans, Neumanns, or Neumester. In Ireland, it may appear as Neumane, Neumanne, Neumanney, Neumanneye, Neumanye, Neumanys, and Neumanyse.

Overall, the surname Neumayer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin from all around Europe.

Famous people with the name Neumayer

• Philipp Neumayer: German sailing skipper and competitor in the Whitbread Round the World Race.
• Lukas Neumayer: Austrian alpine skier who competed at the 2002 Olympics.
• Peter Neumayer: Austrian long-distance runner who has competed in the marathon at the 2008 Olympics.
• Josef Neumayer: Austrian mountaineer who made numerous first ascents in the Alps.
• John Neumayer: Former professor and head of geology at Stanford University.
• Eric Neumayer: Professor of environmental geography at the London School of Economics.
• Maximilian Neumayer: German film director, producer and screenwriter.
• Daniel Neumayer: Swedish professional ice hockey player.
• Eduard Neumayer: Austrian geophysicist and cartographer, worked in geomagnetism and meteorology.
• Antone Neumayer: American Olympic downhill skier who competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics.
• Paul Neumayer: German figure skater who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics.
• Alfred Neumayer: German astronomer, one of the founders of modern atmospheric optics.
• Barbara Neumayer: Austrian singer and television presenter.
• Johann Neumayer: Austrian explorer and scientist who conducted the first deep-sea exploration around Antarctica.
• Joerg Neumayer: German physician and forensic pathologist who studied the effects of electric shocks on the human body.

Other surnames

Neumayr