Surname Altmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Altmaier: What does the surname Altmaier mean?
The last name Altmaier is a German surname derived from the root word “Altmayer”, which translates to “old master”. The Altmaier surname likely evolved in the Middle Ages when it was more common for people to take on surnames depending on their occupation or status. In this case, those who took the last name Altmaier had likely been master craftsman or an esteemed professional in their respective community who lived for extended periods of time.
As far as its usage, today the surname Altmaier is becoming increasingly popular in Germany, although it is found in other countries as well. One of the most prominent people who have the last name is German politician Peter Altmaier, the current Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Ultimately, the meaning and usage of the last name Altmaier has evolved over the years to become a respected surname in today’s modern world. It is a reminder of past times when a name was linked to a person’s skill and accomplishments, representing the mastery and expertise of those who were well-respected among their peers.
Order DNA origin analysisAltmaier: Where does the name Altmaier come from?
The last name Altmaier is most common today in Germany, where it is estimated to be held by over 57,000 people. According to the Geneanet database, around 24% of the population of the German state of Baden-Württemberg carry the surname. Altmaier is also found in much lower numbers in neighbouring Germany states such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Thuringia, and Bavaria. Beyond Germany, the surname is found in the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada, amongst other countries.
The Altmaier name originated as a variation of the German "Altmayer," which means "old mayor." Altmayer was initially a title for an old head of a village or settlement, typically given when a son was appointed to take his father's place as the mayor of the village. As a result, people who held this title came to adopt Altmaier as their surname, giving rise to the geographic spread of the last name throughout Europe.
Today, Altmaier is shared by many prominent figures, including German politician Peter Altmaier, who served as Minister of the Chancellery and Head of the Federal Chancellery from 2018-2021; the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Altmaier and Dr. Bernhard Altmaier; and American professional soccer player Nathan Altmaier.
Variations of the surname Altmaier
The Altmaier surname is a German topographic name for someone who lived in the area of a meadow in an upland terrain. Altmaier is spelled as Altemayer and Altemeier in Austria, and Altmayer, Altmeyer, and Altmüller are the variants found in the baden-württemberg region of Germany. It is also written as Altmeier in the Northwestern region of the country.
The common spellings in neighboring countries include Holtmaijer in the Netherlands, Oltmejer in Denmark, and Altmejer in Sweden. Holmtamäjri is another variant form found in Finland, while the alternate spellings of Oltermayr and Oltmayer are used in Italy. The surname is found in many other countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
The variants associated with the Altmaier surname include Altmyer, Altemeyer, Altemier, Holmayer, Oltmeyer, and Altmeyer. Altmejer or Holtmayer can also take the form of Holtmaier or Holtmeier. Variants of the Altemeyer spelling include Altemar, Altmain, Altemeir, Altnayer and Altman. Other variations associated with the Altmaier surname include Holtmari, Altmey, and Altmer.
The Altmaiers were originally from the area of Bavaria region of Germany and are now spread all over the world. They are often found bearing the surnames Altmyer, Altemeyer, Altemier, Holmayer, Oltmeyer, and Altmeyer, among other variants.
In closing, the surname Altmaier has a wide variety of variants, spellings, and surnames associated with it. Most of these variants can be found in Bavaria, Germany and other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Altmaier
- Peter Altmaier: Peter Altmaier is a German politician serving as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy since 2018, and as Federal Minister of Defence since 2019 to date. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
- Heidi Altmaier: Heidi Altmaier is a German classical music singer, educator and vocal coach. She is the wife of Peter Altmaier.
- Malte Altmaier: Malte Altmaier is a German professional footballer who plays as a Defender for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
- Mike Altmaier: Mike Altmaier is a German figure skater who competed in ice dancing, with six national titles in 1989–2002.
- Constantia Altmaier: Constantia Altmaier is an international Grand Prix dressage rider from Germany.
- Jürgen Altmaier: Jürgen Altmaier is a German psychologist, consultant and business manager, as well as a professor at the University of Wuppertal.