Surname Kerkemeier - Meaning and Origin

Kerkemeier: What does the surname Kerkemeier mean?

The surname Kerkemeier can be traced back to Germany and Austria. In German, it is a combination of two words: "Kerk" and "Meier". Combined, Kerkemeier literally translates to ‘Church Steward’ and could refer to somebody who was paid to manage and care for churches and churchyards.

During the medieval period in Europe, stewards were responsible for managing stewards and collecting revenues from tenants in the manor. These manors were used as the income base of the local Church because they had control over big portions of land. This means that someone with the surname Kerkemeier could have been part of a family of influential landowners.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname appears in the family armorial of Lower Silesia at the turn of the 18th century. Over the past few centuries, the Kerkemeier surname has spread throughout the world, particularly in rural areas of Germany and Austria. It has enjoyed a slight increase in popularity in the US over the past century, with clusters concentrated in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Overall, the last name Kerkemeier has a long history, possibly descended from a family of landowners of medieval Europe. It is a reminder of their economic and social stature from long ago.

Kerkemeier: Where does the name Kerkemeier come from?

The last name Kerkemeier is primarily a German surname, and the name is still extremely common in Germany today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kerkemeier is the 3,900th most common last name in the country, with approximately 19,000 people bearing the name. The name is most notable in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, both of which are people with the last name making account for more than 2,000 individuals.

Kerkemeier, or a variant of the name such as Kerkemeijer, is also found in other countries throughout Europe, including the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden. In the United States, Kerkemeier is primarily found in states in the Midwestern region, which is largely populated by German Americans and their descendants. This is likely due to the large numbers of German-speaking immigrants who moved to the Midwest between the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s.

The last name is also seen in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, where Kerkemeier is one of the more popular German surnames. In Canada, Kerkemeier is found mainly in those provinces with large German-speaking populations, such as Ontario and Manitoba.

Variations of the surname Kerkemeier

Kerkemeier is a rare German surname. Variants of this surname include Kerkemeir, Kerkmeier, Kerkmeir, Kerkmeyer, Kerkmayer, and Kerkmair.

Kerkemeier is derived from the Old High German terms ‘kerk’ meaning 'church' and ‘meier’ meaning 'mayor'. It is likely that this surname was once used to refer to a mayor of the town or district who was in charge of the local church. It also could have simply refer to a person who worked at the church.

Other spellings of this surname include Kerkemeijer, Kerckmeijer, Kerkmeier, and Kerckmeyer. It is also seen as Kerkemair and Kerkemeyer, which are similar to the original spelling.

The surname Kerkemeier can be found in records with a range of different surnames throughout Germany. There are also individuals with this surname found in Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Additionally, Kerkemeier may be an anglicized version of the Dutch, German, and Scandinavian surnames Kerkmeijer, Kerkhof, and Krembhover, and could refer to people living near a church.

The spelling of Dotkerkemeier is also used, with ‘Dot’ likely referring to a nickname or pet form of a christian name, either a personal name or a saint's name. Alternatively, the ‘Dot’ might also refer to a shortened version of the given name Theodorus.

Famous people with the name Kerkemeier

• Kelly Kerkemeier: Former American professional basketball player who played for the Women’s National Basketball Association and the American Basketball League.
• Skip Kerkemeier: Former American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Seattle Mariners.
• Phil Kerkemeier: Former Major League Baseball pitcher in the late 1970s who played for the Seattle Mariners and the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Steve Kerkemeier: American professional golfer who competed on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.
• Randall Kerkemeier: American actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Veronica Mars".
• Babs Kerkemeier: Professional bass player who has performed with numerous acts, including Katy Perry, The Breeders, The Cult, and Switchfoot.
• Jeff Kerkemeier: Director of Sales and Marketing at Excel Dryer Inc.
• David Kerkemeier: Deputy State Forester for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
• David P. Kerkemeier: Professor of Plant Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
• Dennis Kerkemeier: Director of the Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Other surnames

Kerkemeyer