Surname Krabbemeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Krabbemeyer: What does the surname Krabbemeyer mean?
The last name Krabbemeyer is a Germanic surname which is derived from the Old German words krabbe, meaning "crab" and meyer, meaning "mayor." It is likely that the surname originated as an occupational name for a mayor or other public official whose main responsibility was regulating the crab fishing industry. It can also be an occupational name for one who made a living catching and processing crabs for use in food or medicinal preparations.
The first recorded spelling of the surname Krabbemeyer is in 1571, when Christoffel Krabbe Meijer was a magistrate from Bitburg in Westphalia. Over the years, the surname spread throughout Germany, and into other countries such as the Netherlands and the United States.
Today, many descendants of those who migrated with the surname Krabbemeyer can be found in both Germany and the United States. The surname is still relatively common in both countries, though its spellings may be slightly modified in America. It is still largely associated with crab fishing and regulatory officials, though there are many varied professions and businesses that now go by the Krabbemeyer name.
Order DNA origin analysisKrabbemeyer: Where does the name Krabbemeyer come from?
The last name Krabbemeyer is most common in Germany today. According to information from websites such as Ancestry.com and Geneanet.org, the Krabbemeyer surname is still popular in select areas of Germany, with a handful of families living in other European countries, such as the Netherlands.
The name Krabbemeyer may have originated in the early Middle Ages, as a combination of two German words, 'Krappen' and 'Meier'. This combination most likely meant a farmer who owned a large tract of land. Hence, the name has come to be associated with landowners and agriculturists.
In modern times, the most populous regions in Germany with the Krabbemeyer surname are Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. Over 27,000 people with the surname live in Bavaria, while about 9,500 live in Rhineland-Palatinate. There are also smaller numbers in other areas of Germany, such as Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia.
Variations of the Krabbemeyer name can be found throughout Europe, with many families in the Netherlands and several living in Poland. In addition, there are scattered individuals in France, Italy, and Austria who have the name.
The exact number of people carrying the Krabbemeyer surname is unknown, but it is likely in the tens of thousands. The name remains a popular surname in select areas of Germany and Europe.
Variations of the surname Krabbemeyer
The surname Krabbemeyer is a German surname and can have a number of different spellings and variations. These include:
* Krabemeyer
* Krabmeyer
* Kräbemeyer
* Kräbmeyer
* Kraboemeyer
* Krabuemeyer
* Krabüemeyer
* Kraboumeijer
* Kraboumeijers
* Kraboumeiers
* Kraboumeyers
* Kraffmeyer
* Kräffmeyer
* Kraffmeijer
* Kraffmaijer
* Kraffmayr
* Kräffmayer
* Kraffmayer
The surname is registered in Germany, but is also prevalent in the Netherlands, in the forms Kraffmeijer and Kraffmaijer. These Dutch forms of the surname may have been taken up as a result of a migration of people between the two countries.
The Krabemeyer, Krabmeyer, Kräbemeyer, Kräbmeyer spellings are found mainly in eastern parts of Germany. While the Kraffmeyer, Kräffmeyer forms are most commonly used in the western part of the country.
The Kraboumeijer, Kraboumeijers, Kraboumeiers and Kraboumeyers spellings are derived from the old Dutch language, and are generally used when referring to the same surname in the Netherlands.
Despite the slight variations in spelling, all of these surnames are of the same origin and refer to the same family.
Famous people with the name Krabbemeyer
- Christian Krabbemeyer- An award-winning German photographer, filmmaker, and artist.
- Yvonne Krabbemeyer- An independent filmmaker, producer, and author from the Netherlands.
- Johannes Krabbemeyer- A former football player from Germany who played for FC Luton II from 1991 to 1992.
- Michael Krabbemeyer- An Australian basketball player who currently plays for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the National Basketball League.
- Ernst Krabbemeyer- A German politician from the Free Democratic Party who served as a member of the Lower Saxony Landtag from 1998 to 2003.
- Adam Krabbemeyer- An American television producer and writer who has worked on several popular shows such as The Simpsons and Modern Family.
- Hans Krabbemeyer- An Austrian tenor and music teacher who was active in the Vienna State Opera House in the early twentieth century.
- Henning Krabbemeyer- A professor of political science at the University of Göttingen in Germany since 1998.
- Rüdiger Krabbemeyer- A German environmental and nature photographer who has published several books about nature.
- Robert Krabbemeyer- A popular children's book author and illustrator from the United Kingdom, best known for his book series about Little Bill.