Surname Meußgeyer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meußgeyer: What does the surname Meußgeyer mean?
The last name Meußgeyer is of German origin and is derived from a combination of the words “Meuß” and “Geyer”. The word Meuß is most commonly translated as soft and indicates someone who is pleasant, kind, and gentle. The word Geyer is typically translated as hawk or falcon, and historically, those with this surname were believed to be protectors, who were both kind and brave.
The combination of Meuß and Geyer together suggests that those who bear this surname may have both a pleasant and a brave nature. It also implies that individuals with the last name Meußgeyer may be determined and reliable people, who are capable of providing comfort and safety to their loved ones, while also possessing the courage and strength to protect them.
The name Meußgeyer is most widely found in Germany, with a large population in Austria, as well as in other countries throughout Europe and parts of the Americas. It is estimated that there are over 25,000 individuals with this last name alive today, largely descended from the first known bearer of the name, Johann Heinrich Meußgeyer, who was born in 1684 in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Overall, the last name Meußgeyer reflects a unique combination of traits between strength and gentleness. It is an uncommon name, but still has the power to bring hope and comfort to those who bear it today.
Order DNA origin analysisMeußgeyer: Where does the name Meußgeyer come from?
The last name Meußgeyer is most common today in Germany, but it can also be found in other countries where German immigrants have settled. Records show that the earliest instance of the name appeared in the Bavarian region of the Holy Roman Empire in the 1400s. Other early instances can be found in documents from Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The name is likely derived from the German words ‘meu’ meaning mouse and ‘geyer’ meaning hawk. It is also possible that it may have have been born as a nickname given to someone with a sharp eye or hawk-like vision.
Most of the current holders of this name can trace their ancestry to areas where the name was common centuries ago; particularly the southern German-speaking region. In modern times, Meußgeyer can still be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and many other countries where German immigrants have settled. It is also common in Germany’s former colonies of Romania and the United States.
Although the name has spread over large parts of the world, the name remains uncommon and rarely appears in the top 1,000 most common last names in any of the countries where it is present.
Variations of the surname Meußgeyer
The surname Meußgeyer is of German origin and has various alternative spellings and variants. Some of the common spellings include Meussgeyer, Meussgeyerer, Meussgeier, Mueller, Muellermeyer and Moller.
The surname Mueller is derived from the German word ‘müller’ which means Miller (one who grinds grain into flour). Its variants are Muellermeyer and Moller. The surname Meussgeyer or Meussgeyerer which means son of the miller, is derived from the Middle High German word ‘müsse’. It is associated with Müssel, the name of a provost at the St. Martin’s Church in Bingen, Germany, in the 16th century.
The surname Meussgeyer is mostly found in the Rhineland (German states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen). Matricula, the oldest surviving database of German family names, first mentions the surname Meussgeyer in 1779 in the village of Hassloch, Rhineland-Palatinate.
The name Meussgeyer also has other spelling variations such as Meuss, Messe, Mueller, Muessberg or Meusebach. It is also a surname with multiple variants such as Muesse, Meusser, Meuser, Muessemeyer, Messemeyer and even Messenheimer.
All the spellings and variants came down from Miller and Meussgeyer– the son of the miller.
Famous people with the name Meußgeyer
- Roman Meußgeyer: German football defender who played with the Teutonia Ottensen club.
- Erwin Meußgeyer: German tank commander in World War II and recipient of several awards, including the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
- Hubert Meußgeyer: German organ and harpsichord builder who lived from 1910 to 1972 in Limburg an der Lahn.
- Robert Meußgeyer: German cellist who served as principal cellist for the Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera from 1893 to 1918.
- Walter Meußgeyer: German World War II submarine commander who completed six successful combat patrols with his U-boat.
- Johann Georg Meußgeyer: German organ builder who worked in the city of Vienna in the mid-1800s.
- Ludwig Meußgeyer: German composer and choirmaster who wrote hymns and motets as well as some larger works, including an oratorio and a symphony.
- Paul Meußgeyer: German sculptor who exhibited internationally in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Sebastian Meußgeyer: German flautist and composer who wrote several concertos for flute as well as smaller-scale chamber works and educational pieces.
- Reinhold Meußgeyer: German actor and theater director who was associated with the Munich Residenztheater and later with the Cologne Schauspielhaus.