Surname Lemaire - Meaning and Origin

Embracing Heritage: The Surname Lemaire Through the Lens of My iGENEA DNA Test

Following my iGENEA DNA test, my perception of personal identity and heritage is transformed. The surname Lemaire is not just a marker of lineage but an emblem of my roots, echoing thousands of years of my ancestors' lives.

B. Lemaire

Lemaire: What does the surname Lemaire mean?

The surname Lemaire is of French origin. It comes from the old French occupational name "le maire", meaning "the mayor". It was traditionally given to individuals who held this position in a town or local community. This kind of surname related to a person's occupation is known as an occupational surname. This surname is fairly common in France and may also be found in other parts of the world, reflecting the French diaspora. The existence of different bearers of the surname Lemaire does not necessarily mean that they are all related, as the name could have been assumed independently by different families in different regions. Over time, different variations of this surname have emerged, although "Lemaire" is still commonly used today.

Lemaire: Where does the name Lemaire come from?

The surname Lemaire originates from France. It's derived from the old French term "le maire," which translates to "the mayor". Historically, this name was often used to denote someone who held the position of mayor or chief administrative officer within a town or village, or someone who worked within a mayor’s office. Variants of this surname include le Maire, Le Mére, Lemair, Lemairet, Lemaître, Lemaistre, and there are others. Today, the surname continues to be most common in France. However, due to historic French emigration, the name can be found in various countries across the globe. There are people with the surname Lemaire in places such as Belgium, Canada (particularly Quebec), and the United States, amongst others. However, its distribution remains highest in France.

Variations of the surname Lemaire

The surname Lemaire is of French origin and it basically translates as "The Mayor". It is derived from "le maire", a title used to describe an officer in charge of local administration during the middle ages in France. The name Lemaire could have been an occupational name for a public official or a nickname for someone who behaved like a mayor. There are different variations and spelling of this surname due to regional differences, personal preference, or even clerical errors in documentation.

Some common variants and alternate spellings of Lemaire include LeMaire, Le Maire, Lemar, Lemare, Lemaires, Lemaistre, Maire, and Mair. In some cases, the spelling may also include an apostrophe such as L'Maire. It is also possible to find the surname under the forms of Demaire and Delamaire, with the prefix 'de' meaning 'from'.

As for surnames of the same origin, titles or occupations often influenced surname creation, so names such as Lefevre (the smith), Leclerc (the clerk), or Leroi (the king) also share French origin and similar naming traditions. However, they are not direct variants of Lemaire.

Remember that spelling variations can often aid in tracing the migration and movement of families in and out of different regions or countries.

Famous people with the name Lemaire

• Antonio Lemaire: French artist and muralist
• Claude Lemaire: French former professional soccer player and current manager
• Frederic Lemaire: French actor and television presenter
• Jean Lemaire de Belges: 16th century poet and historiographer
• Jovan Lemaire: professional Starcraft II player
• Kim Lemaire: Canadian professional synchronized skater
• Magali Lemaire: French sculptor
• Mathieu Lemaire: French-born Spanish sprint canoeist
• Maxime Lemaire: French rally driver
• Nicolas Lemaire: French racing cyclist
• Philippe Lemaire: French actor
• Pierre-Louis Lemaire: 19th century French artist
• Raynald Lemaire: Belgian professional football player
• Robert Lemaire: Swiss politician
• Sophie Lemaire: French show jumping champion
• Theodor Lemaire: Late 19th century German naturalist

Other surnames

Lemaitre