Surname Wilhelmsmeier - Meaning and Origin

Wilhelmsmeier: What does the surname Wilhelmsmeier mean?

The last name Wilhelmsmeier is a German surname. It is a combination of two names—Wilhelm and Meier. Wilhelm is a German given name derived from two Germanic words, “wil” meaning “desire” and “helm” meaning “protection”. The name was traditionally associated with rulers and defenders. Meier is a German last name, derived from the original job title of “administrator of land” during medieval times. Specifically, it is derived from the German word “meie” meaning “share”, “assignment” or “measure”. Combined, the surname Wilhelmsmeier can be interpreted to mean “protector of the land”.

The surname appears to originate in the German region of Hanover, specifically the cities of Hanover, Stolzenau, and Nienburg. During the 1400s and 1500s, there were families with the last name Wilhelmsmeier living in these cities, indicating that the surname has origins in this specific region of Germany.

Currently, there are several people living in Germany who have the last name Wilhelmsmeier, indicating that the family name is still in use today. Furthermore, people around the world have adopted this name, as evidenced by its presence on genealogy websites. Thus, it appears that the surname Wilhelmsmeier is still in use today, though its exact origin continues to remain somewhat of a mystery.

Wilhelmsmeier: Where does the name Wilhelmsmeier come from?

The last name Wilhelmsmeier is common mainly throughout Germany today. Wilhelmsmeier is a German name, derived from the personal given name Wilhelms and the suffix -meier, an occupational name meaning "mayor". It is one of the most common German surnames, and is found in other regions of Europe as well.

Within Germany itself, Wilhelmsmeier is concentrated mainly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, where the highest concentrations are in the cities of Munich, Berlin, and Düsseldorf. Across the country, Wilhelmsmeiers are spread out evenly, with no region or city having significantly more than the others. This is a testament to the surname's popularity across Germany.

Since Germany is one of the top countries of origin for immigrants to the United States, Wilhelmsmeier is found here as well. It is especially common in areas with a large German population, such as Wisconsin, Missouri, North Dakota, and Illinois.

Due to Germany's close proximity to France, Wilhelmsmeier can also be found in this country. The French spelling is 'Wilhelmsmier', and this name is particularly well represented in the city of Paris.

Finally, Wilhelmsmeier is also present in the Netherlands. However, the name is less common here than in Germany, the US, and France.

Variations of the surname Wilhelmsmeier

The Wilhelmsmeier surname has many variants, spellings and alternate surnames of the same origin. In Germany, it is sometimes spelled Wilhelmsmeyer, Wilhelmesmeier, Wilhelmesmeyer, Wilmmeier, Wilmmeyer, Wilmesmeier, Wilmesmeyer, Wilmsmeier, Wilmsmeyer. In France, it is also known as Guilhemard.

In the United States, the variants of Wilhelmsmeier are Wilhelmseer, Wilhelmseir, Wilhelmser, Wilhelmsir, Wileymer, Wilhlemseer and Wilhelmeser. In other countries like England, Canada, and Australia there are also variants like Wilhelmesmare, Wilhelmsma, Willemsma, Wilhue, Willimsma, Wilhemseer and Wilhimeser, among others.

The Wilhelmsmeier surname is mostly found in Europe, particularly in Germany, but it is also known to exist in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries with connections to Germany. It is a Germany-born surname that originated from the given name Wilhelm, and it means “powerful protector” or “strong protector”. The Wilhelmsmeier surname also has a tendency to be shortened and abbreviated to Wilms, so if you come across that name, it is probably just someone who has the Wilhelmsmeier surname.

Famous people with the name Wilhelmsmeier

• Harald Wilhelmsmeier: German politician and lawyer who rose to prominence in the 1990s for his political prominence on a variety of platforms.
• Klaus Wilhelmsmeier: German historian who has written extensively on Nazi Germany, World War II and early German history.
• Philip Wilhelmsmeier: German football player who made 74 appearances for the German national team between 1968 and 1982.
• Jürgen Wilhelmsmeier: German radio personality and presenter, well known for presenting award-winning entertainment programs across Germany.
• Rudolf Wilhelmsmeier: German military officer who was awarded the Iron Cross in World War II for his significant achievements in battle.
• Jens Wilhelmsmeier: German economist and professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Munich.
• Erwin Wilhelmsmeier: German mathematician and logician who wrote a number of influential texts on algebra and geometry.
• Wilhelm Wilhelmsmeier: German industrialist who was responsible for the development and growth of numerous factories and businesses since the 1920s.
• Wilhelm Wilhelmsmeier, Jr.: German businessman and political scientist, son of Wilhelm Wilhelmsmeier, who challenged government policy and wrote extensively on political and economic matters.
• Mark Wilhelmsmeier: German entrepreneur and maker of hand-crafted wood watches, known for his innovative and creative designs.

Other surnames

Wilhelmsmeyer