Surname Mertelmeier - Meaning and Origin

Mertelmeier: What does the surname Mertelmeier mean?

The last name Mertelmeier is of German origin. It was most likely formed from the German words 'mert' which means 'spark' and 'meier' which was an occupational name for a farmer. Therefore it is believed that the name Mertelmeier originated as a descriptive byname for a farmer whose scythe sparked when being used. By the Middle Ages, the byname had likely become fixed and was being passed down through families.

The name Mertelmeier has a long history in Germany, being first documented in the city of Munich in 1262. It was also found in many locations in what are now the German states of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony. The earliest records show that the name was quite common in the region and it was most likely due to the expansion of the Germanic Empire during the period.

The name Mertelmeier is still common today throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. While it can be found in areas of migration such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, those with the name still bear a strong connection to the Germanic lands in which it first originated.

Mertelmeier: Where does the name Mertelmeier come from?

Mertelmeier is a surname of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German words merte (line) and meier (mayor). In Germany, the name Mertelmeier is mainly concentrated in the state of Bavaria. It first became popular during the Middle Ages when it was used as a title for local mayors.

Today, the last name Mertelmeier is still found mostly in Germany and parts of Central Europe. A quick search shows that it is especially popular in the region of Bayern (Bavaria), as well as in Hamburg. The surname is also still found in smaller numbers in Austria, Switzerland, and Benelux countries.

Outside of Europe, it has been given to people who have migrated from Europe over the centuries. Thus, it is not uncommon to find Mertelmeier in many parts of the Americas, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Brazil. The name has even spread as far as New Zealand.

Overall, the last name Mertelmeier is still relatively popular in many parts of the world, mostly in areas of historic German settlement. Despite some migration of the surname in the last few centuries, it is still primarily associated with Germany and Central Europe.

Variations of the surname Mertelmeier

The surname Mertelmeier is a variant spelling of Mertelmayer, Märtelmeier, and Mortelmeier. It is a German occupational surname that originated in the 16th century in the Bavarian region of Germany, and variations of the name can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In German, the literal translation of Mertelmeier means "master mason” or “bricklayer".

Historical records show variations of this surname can be traced back to Germany in 1552. This makes it likely that the name is derived from the Old German word "mertel," which means work or labor, combined with “meyh”or “mahr,” meaning mason. Other surnames with similar origins include Mertelmayr, Mertely, and Mertella.

Other spelling variations of Mertelmeier include Mätirmaüer, Meertelmaieh, Mertlmaier, Mertella, Meertelmair, Merlemeier, Mortelman, Mertely, and Mortelmaher. These spellings of the name carry over to other countries where people have adopted the surname in an anglicised form. For example, Mertelmaier in Germany is spelt Mertelman in the United States, or Mertele in Canada.

The anglicised surnames that stem directly from Mertelmeier are usually found within German-speaking populations, but there are also names derived from it, such as Mertello, Mirtle, Meertelen, Mortelmyer, and Martlea. These surnames are typically found in areas where German-speaking immigrants have settled.

In conclusion, variations of the name Mertelmeier have been recorded in historical documents since the 16th century and are predominantly found in countries that have a German-speaking population. The name has various spellings, variants and surnames derived from it.

Famous people with the name Mertelmeier

• Ludwig Mertelmeier (1911: 1987) was a German actor and theatre director.
• Adelheid Mertelmeier (born 1929) is a German artist whose artwork has been shown in galleries throughout Europe.
• Wolfgang Mertelmeier (born 1956) is a German film producer and actor.
• Manfred Mertelmeier (born 1936) is a German professor of medical anthropology and public health.
• Martin Mertelmeier (1919: 2010) was a German politician and Member of Parliament in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
• Matthias Mertelmeier (born 1990) is a German rugby union player.
• Detlef Mertelmeier (born 1948) is a German art historian.
• Wilfried Mertelmeier (born 1952) is a German performance artist and actor.
• Stefan Mertelmeier (born 1966) is a German architect and urban planner.
• Christian Mertelmeier (1925: 2007) was a German concentration camp survivor and author.

Other surnames

Mertelmeyer