Surname Leitenmayer - Meaning and Origin

Leitenmayer: What does the surname Leitenmayer mean?

The surname Leitenmayer is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term “Leitenmaier,” which translates as “leader of mowers.” The term further indicates that the individual with this last name historically held some authoritative position related to farm management.

Leitenmayer is likely a variant spelling of the original Old High German term “Leitelemere” which is derived from the combined terms “leite” meaning “leader” and specific geographic place markers such as “heim” meaning “home” or “grue” meaning “valley.” This combination could emanate from a specific geographic location or occupation of an individual.

In some instances, the prefix “Lait” was substituted for the “Leite” prefix. Further, the origin of the German term “maier” is uncertain and has been seen as a variant form of “meier,” which applies to individuals who typically owned large estates or farms where farming or production occurred.

Because record keeping was not always common, a variant spelling of Leitenmayer has evolved over time. It is also reasonably certain particular variants of the name are geographically based variations such as Lentenmeier in Germany’s Rhineland. Bearers of the name most likely resided in Germany, with a scattering in other Northern European countries.

The earliest records of the Leitenmayer surname can be found in the 1500s when records were kept. It is believed this surname is still common in Central and Southern Germany today, although certain variant spellings of the name may also have been adopted in other countries.

Leitenmayer: Where does the name Leitenmayer come from?

The last name Leitenmayer is most common in the German-speaking countries of Europe. Specifically, it is a relatively common surname in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

It is thought that the Leitenmayer surname derives from the older German “Leydtman,” which means “The Handler.” The earliest record of the Leitenmayer name in Europe is from the 12th century, in Austria. It was also found in several records in Bavaria during the 14th century.

The name is mainly concentrated in the southern German-speaking countries, particularly in the area of Bavaria and Upper Austria. It is also found in the former Thuringia region of Germany and the territories of Prussia.

Leitenmayer is still a relatively popular name in Austria. According to one statistic, it is the 143rd most common surname in that country. However, it is much less common in Germany, ranking 18,532nd in terms of frequency. In Switzerland, it is also considered a rare surname, with only 1,070 registered citizens with the name.

In the United States, the surname Leitenmayer is much less common than in Europe, with only 35 people bearing the name according to the Social Security database. Most of these individuals are of German descent and belong to the states of New York, California, and New Jersey.

Overall, Leitenmayer is most common in the German-speaking countries of Europe, particularly Austria. It is somewhat rare in the United States, though there is a small population of Leitenmayers in the country.

Variations of the surname Leitenmayer

The surname Leitenmayer is believed to have originated from Germany. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Leitenmaller, Leitenmueller, Leitenmeyer, Leidenmayer, Leidenmeyer, Leitenmiller, Leitenmilller, Leittenmayer, Leittenmaller, Leettenmayer, Leettenmueller, Leitenmaller, Leittenmayer, Leittemmueller, Leytenmayer, and Leytenmaller.

Leitenmayer could also be a variation of the German surname Leitenmaier, likely implying the person was either a tenant farmer or a condition of office which the family held for a period of time. In modern times, this name could suggest that the ancestor was a land-owner or landholder.

The origin of the surname Leitenmayer can be traced back to Germany. Records exist from Germany for this surname in the 17th century. It can be found as early as 1625 in the records of Bavarian nobility, where a Johan Henricus de Leittenmaier was noted. In the 1400s, the German surname Le immobilier was used as a condition of officer, meaning there were likely individuals of that name in the 1500s or earlier.

The spellings and variations of this name have changed over the centuries since its creation in Germany. For example, the German spelling was Leitenmaier. This changed to Leitenmayer in the 1600s when it was adopted in Alsace and some parts of Austria and Switzerland. In the 1800s, various new spellings were adopted in other parts of Europe, such as France and Romania. The variations in the spelling of the name also spread to other countries and continents such as the USA. Over time, the German surname Leitenmayer has become widely used in different places and adopted by diverse cultures and communities as their own.

Famous people with the name Leitenmayer

• Albert Leitenmayer (born in 1962), professional German footballer.
• Edmond Leitenmayer (1820–1868), German composer, conductor and organist.
• Franz Xaver Leitenmayer (1813–1893), German Catholic priest and hymnist.
• Hans Leitenmayer (1922–2015), Austrian character actor.
• J. Henning Leitenmayer (1810–1867), German merchant and plenipotentiary of San Salvador.
• John Leitenmayer (1822–1886), American businessman and financier.
• Johannes Leitenmayer (born 1954), German Roman Catholic bishop and theologian.
• Martin Leitenmayer (1837–1909), German admiral.
• Michael Leitenmayer (born 1963), Austrian alpine skier.
• Otto Leitenmayer (1835–1915), German-Austrian sculptor.

Other surnames

Leitenmair