Surname Vollmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Vollmayr: What does the surname Vollmayr mean?
Vollmayr is a German surname meaning "very mighty." The name was historically an important and distinguished family name, representing people of high status or power in German society. It is thought to have originated from the word “vollmacht” (power), or from the phrase “vollmachen” (to empower). The Vollmayr surname may have indicated a powerful family or one that held privilege, such as nobility or royalty.
The Vollmayr name has been traced back to the mid-14th century, with the first known documents of the name appearing in the Bavarian village of Griesbach, near Trier. Documents show the Vollmayrs as influential landowners and mild aristocrats, and records include the name in connection with property transactions, and often in reference to family coats of arms.
The Vollmayr name spread throughout Bavaria, with the name becoming popular in other parts of Germany and beyond. It was carried by German emigrants to the United States and Canada throughout the 19th century, and members of the Vollmayr family are now found in many parts of the world.
Despite its longstanding history as an important and influential German surname, the meaning of the name Vollmayr remains largely unknown. The origins of the name are difficult to trace, but it is likely that an appreciation of power and privilege lies behind its creation.
Order DNA origin analysisVollmayr: Where does the name Vollmayr come from?
The last name Vollmayr is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is a German-originated name, thought to have derived from a medieval personal name "Vollmar" or "Vollmaer". The name was probably created by combining two common German words for "full" and "mar", which basically means "fully wise".
The surname could also have originated from the Middle High German phrase "Volmaere", meaning "Someone who acts on his own authority". The first recorded use of the name is in the early 12th century in Bavaria, in what is now modern-day Germany.
Today, Vollmayr is a fairly common surname throughout Germany and Austria, although not as common as it was in the Middle Ages. In the United States, the Vollmayr last name is also found, though mostly in communities with German ancestry. There are a few Vollmayrs who have migrated to other countries in Europe and Latin America, and even to Canada and Australia over time.
However, most of the people who carry the surname today are mostly concentrated in three countries - Germany, Austria, and the United States. The highest concentration is in the state of Bavaria, Germany, followed by Vienna, Austria. Other smaller regions of Europe have also seen a bit of Vollmayr influence, including Switzerland and other countries with German populations.
Variations of the surname Vollmayr
The surname Vollmayr has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include the German, Austrian, and Swiss spelling Völmayer, as well as the variants Vollmaier, Völlmayer, and Vollmeyer.
The Germanic-based surname Vollmayr first appeared in records in the 14th century. Variants Völmayer, Vollmaier, and Völlmayer likely originated in what is now southern Germany and parts of Austria, while Vollmeyer likely first appeared in what is now northern Germany.
Völmayer is considered the original form of the surname Vollmayr and typically appears in records from the Middle Ages. It is believed to have been derived from the Middle High German word 'vollemaere', meaning a full-time steward.
Vollmaier is a variant of Völmayer that is now usually found in Austria and Bavaria. It also derives from the Middle High German word 'vollemaere' and can be sometimes seen as Vollmaer, Völlmaer, or Völlmaier.
Völlmayer is another variant of the surname that is now found in Austria. It is believed to derive from the Middle High German word 'volhmer', which was a timeless or permanent title of stewardship.
Vollmeyer is the last variant and is typically found in northern and central Germany. It has been derived from the Middle High German word 'volmer', which was another word for a steward or manager.
Overall, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Vollmayr. These include the German, Austrian, and Swiss spelling Völmayer, as well as the variants Vollmaier, Völlmayer, and Vollmeyer.
Famous people with the name Vollmayr
- Vivianne Vollmayr: Brazilian professional beach volleyball player
- Tony Vollmayr: Canadian football coach
- Robert Vollmayr: American former basketball player
- Carlette Vollmayr: American artist and printmaker
- Manfred Vollmayr: German composer
- Jari Vollmayr: former German professional basketball player
- Marv Vollmayr: American professional baseball player
- Robert Vollmayr-Lee: American-born British award-winning documentary filmmaker
- F.W. Vollmayr: German engineer
- Robert Vollmayr: Senior Lecturer in Economic History at University College London