Surname Kornmaier - Meaning and Origin
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Kornmaier: What does the surname Kornmaier mean?
Kornmaier is a surname of German origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German words ‘korn’ and ‘meier’, which mean corn and farmer respectively. The name Kornmaier therefore literally translates to ‘corn farmer’, referring to a person who worked as an agriculturalist or laborer. The surname has been found to date back to at least as early as the 14th century, where it was found in records of NYC area immigrants originating from northern Germany (notably Hanover and Lübeck).
Today, the surname is most likely still associated with farming and agriculture. Several people with the last name Kornmaier continue to work in the same area as their ancestors hundreds of years ago – producing corn and other crops, and even owning farms.
The surname has since traveled far and wide from its original German homeland. The 2000 U.S. Census counted more than 500 people in the United States with this surname, although it has since declined in popularity. There are people with this name living in other countries as well, including Australia, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
No matter where one may find them, it's clear that the surname Kornmaier is rooted in the long tradition of agriculture and farming that long ago brought its earliest members to German-speaking lands.
Order DNA origin analysisKornmaier: Where does the name Kornmaier come from?
The last name Kornmaier is most commonly found in Germany today. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "kornmeiere," which translates to corn grinder. Kornmaier is an occupational name, indicating the original bearer of the surname was a miller or farmer.
Since the Middle Ages, Germany has been predominantly a rural country, which helped our family to have a continuous presence there since the 1400s.. Documents exist indicating that the Kornmaier family range from the Black Forest region in the south to Prussia in the east and to Silesia in the north-west.
In the last two centuries, a result of agglomeration, a process of centralization of population in metropolitan areas, rural areas such as the ones were Kornmaiers lived experienced a decrease in population. Therefore, the highest concentration of bearers of this surname today is located in the city of Nuremberg. This phenomenon presents itself with every family that has its origins in a rural area. Based on a study from 2010, the name is also found in small concentrations in other cities like Ulm, Stuttgart, and Munich.
Kornmaiers continue to keep our family's legacy alive. We remain proud of our German heritage and will keep the family name alive in our future generations to come.
Variations of the surname Kornmaier
The surname Kornmaier is an occupational surname that derives from the Middle Low German term "kornermaier" meaning a tax collector or grain measurer. It is primarily found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Variants of the surname include the German variant Kornermeier and the Swiss variants Kornmeiere, Kornmeier, and Kornmäyere. Alternative spellings include Kornemeyer, Kornemeyers, Kornmeier, and Kornmeyers.
Other spellings of the name are Kornmeyer, Kornmeir, Kornmeye, Kornmeyere, Kornmeyr, Körnermeier, Kornmaire, and Körnmaier. Common surnames with a similar origin to Kornmaier include Kornmaier, Kornmayer, Kornmair, Kornmair, Körnermaier, Kornmaere, Kornmayer, and Kornmayr.
Surnames with a similar meaning include Körmayer (grain measurer) and Körmair (grain merchant). In some cases, the surname Kornmaier has been anglicized to Cornmeyer, Cornmayer, and Cornmair.
The surname is quite varied in its spellings, making it difficult to track down its origin. Today, the surname is still quite common throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Kornmaier
- Marlies Kornmaier-Rehberg: German figure skater and European Champion
- Christine Kornmaier: German politician and Member of Parliament
- Ernst Kornmaier: German Expressionist artist
- Julius Kornmaier: German geographer and explorer
- Emil Kornmaier: Austrian lawyer and politician
- Ferdinand Kornmaier: Austrian writer, scientist, and explorer
- Ferdinand Kornmaier, Jr.: German political scientist and diplomat
- Frank Kornmaier: German World War II fighter pilot
- Heinrich Kornmaier: German theologian and church historian
- Janet Kornmaier: German author and publisher
- Michael Kornmaier: German painter and sculptor
- Otto Kornmaier: Austrian-American physicist
- Richard Kornmaier: American politician
- Robert Kornmaier: German architect
- Stefan Kornmaier: German historian
- Theodor Kornmaier: German banker and financier