Surname Johannigsmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Johannigsmeier: What does the surname Johannigsmeier mean?
The last name Johannigsmeier is a fairly uncommon German surname that likely originated as a patronymic. This means that it was originally derived from the given name of a male ancestor, probably a father or grandfather.
The base of the Johannigsmeier surname is "Johann" which is a German given name that was commonly used throughout the Middle Ages. It is related to the Hebrew name John, which means "Yahweh is gracious". The suffix “-smeier” indicates that this ancestor was a smith or i.e. blacksmith and the creator of this particular last name.
Since its surname is derived from a middle-age given name, it is likely that the Johannigsmeier family has a long-standing tradition in some region of Germany. People bearing the Johannigsmeier surname may still live in the area in which their distant ancestor established his business as a blacksmith.
The Johannigsmeier surname is also related to a variety of alternative spellings such as Johanigsmeyer, Janigsmeyer, and Johannigsmeyer. All of these surnames are indicative of a family of German ancestry and likely refer to a particular blacksmith ancestor.
Order DNA origin analysisJohannigsmeier: Where does the name Johannigsmeier come from?
The last name Johannigsmeier is not overly common today, however it does appear to be most common in Germany. Other countries with significant populations of people with the last name include the United States, Luxembourg, South Africa, Canada, and Austria.
In Germany, Johannigsmeier is most common in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. However, there are also significant populations in the states of Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is estimated that there are around 11,000 people with the last name in Germany.
In the United States, Johannisgmeier is most common in Iowa. However, there are also significant populations in the states of Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. It is estimated that there are around 2,500 people with the last name in the United States.
In Luxembourg, Johannigsmeier is estimated to be the surname of around 4% of the population.
In South Africa, Johannisgmeier is most common in Gauteng province, where it is estimated to be the surname of around 1.6% of the population.
In Austria, the last name Johannigsmeier is most common in the state of Carinthia with a population of around 1,800.
In Canada, there are around 200 people with the last name Johannigsmeier. It is most common in Ontario and British Columbia.
Overall, the last name Johannigsmeier is not overly common, however there are significant populations in various countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Johannigsmeier
Johannigsmeier (or Johannigsmeir) is a German surname derived from two elements. The first, “Johann” is, of course, John, and the second, “meier” or “meir”, is an occupational surname derived from the German word meaning “mayor, steward, or bailiff”. As German surnames often utilize phonetic spelling, Johannigsmeier can also be written as Johannigsmayr, Johannigsmaier, Johanigmayer, Johannigsmayer, Johannigzmayr, and Johannigsmyer, among others.
Surnames with similar origins, but slightly different spellings are common, and Johannsmeier, Johannsgmaier, Johannsgrmiaer, Johannsgreiciaer, Johannsmegier, and Johannsmair, may all be related to Johannigsmeier, although further research would be necessary to confirm the connection. In some cases, the original surname may have been modified or altered to better fit a specific region or language, resulting in the familiar surnames Johannigman, Johannigmann, and Johannksmyer, for example.
As surnames are often passed down through families, minor changes to the spelling and structure of a surname as it is passed from one generation to the next are common, and variants of Johannigsmeier such as Johannigsma, Johannsmer, Johannsmier, Johannsmayer, Jouhannsmeier, and Johannaismeier may have been created during this time.
Since surnames like Johannigsmeier often originate from the German region of Bavaria, it is also possible that the surname could have branched out into variations like Johanningmaier, Johannimaier, or Johanninmaier. Finally, there are cases where a surname’s original spelling and meaning have been entirely forgotten, resulting in unexpected spellings like Jouannsmeier and Johanigeier.
Famous people with the name Johannigsmeier
- Theodor Johannigsmeier: German actor in the 1970s.
- Uriel Johannigsmeier: German engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to automotive engineering.
- Christopher Johannigsmeier: American composer and music producer.
- Martin Johannigsmeier: Bavarian sculptor from the 19th century.
- Simon Johannigsmeier: German footballer and coach.
- Hans Johannigsmeier: German jurist and author.
- Sebastian Johannigsmeier: German organist and composer of the late Baroque period.
- Ulrike Johannigsmeier: Austrian philologist and author.
- Arnold Johannigsmeier: Swiss painter and printmaker of the 18th century.
- Wilhelmina Johannigsmeier: German opera singer and actress of the Romantic period.