Surname Meeker - Meaning and Origin

Meeker: What does the surname Meeker mean?

The last name Meeker is an English or Dutch occupational name for a person who worked in a mine (a "meeker" or "mucker"), which derives from the Middle Dutch word "muccare". The work involved involved sorting, sifting, panning, and washing ore, removing stones, and other labor-intensive activities. Alternatively, the name may come from the Middle English word "meke" meaning "meek, gentle, mild".

The Meeker surname has been recorded in England since the 12th century, when it was found in documents of the 1186 inquest of knights' fees in the district of Lincolnshire. The earliest instance of the Meeker surname in America was recorded in 1620 when Henry Meeker arrived in Vermont from Scotland. By the 18th century, the Meeker name had spread throughout the eastern half of the United States.

The Meeker name is well represented in the United States military, especially among those who served during the First and Second World Wars. Others have distinguished themselves in the fields of law, politics, academics, and the sciences.

Today, the Meeker name can be found all over the United States and around the world. It is an important reminder of the hard work and determination of those who have come before who worked to bring their families into a position of prominence.

Meeker: Where does the name Meeker come from?

The last name Meeker is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the US, it is the 5,475th most common surname. It is most popularly found in the northeastern states, primarily Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. In Canada, it is the 3,516th most common surname, with higher prevalence in the province of Ontario. In the United Kingdom, the most common places to find the surname are in the counties of Lancashire and Norfolk.

The surname Meeker originates from the Dutch people who migrated to the US, Canada, or the UK, and can have a variety of spellings in other languages, such as Meier, Meijer, and Mieker. It likely originated from an occupational surname relating to a scribe or messenger, and was passed down through generations.

The surname has been found on many famous people, such as Investigative journalist, Eleanor Meeker, former US Ambassador to Lebanon, John Meeker, and American basketball player, Jason Meeker.

Today, there are still many Meekers living in the countries mentioned before, as well as other countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, and France. It remains a prominent surname in these countries today.

Variations of the surname Meeker

Meeker is a surname originating from either of two sources. Firstly, it may be an anglicised version of the German name Müker, derived from the Old German words Something like mūka, meaning 'free man'. This type of surname would have been used in Britain from around the 14th century onwards as people with German ancestry moved abroad in search of greater opportunities. Secondly, it can be an English occupational name, derived from makere, meaning 'maker', and therefore referring to someone who made things for a living, such as a blacksmith or potter.

The variants of the Meeker surname include Meker, Meakar, Mekker, Micker, Myker, Miker, and Makear. Alternatively, it may be spelled Meekers, Meakers, Meikar, Meakker, Mikoer, Miekker, and Mikoers.

Other surnames of similar origin include Macquaker, Majkrzak, Makowka, Meachen, Megquier, Miekle, Malikowski, and Meggitt. While some of these may be variations on Meeker, others can be related by origin but distinct from the original. For instance, Malikowski is derived from the Slavic first name Malik, composed of the elements mal, meaning 'peace' and -k, meaning 'ruler'. Similarly, the original source of Megquier is unclear, though it might be derived from the French Makier or the Scottish MacQuaig.

Famous people with the name Meeker

• Megan Meeker: Megan Meeker is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and voice actress known for her work in the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad, TV series Frame of Mind and Diary of a Wimpy Kid films.
• Paul Meeker: Paul Meeker is an American actor best known for his roles in Seven Pounds (2008) and Surrogates (2009).
• Bert Meeker: Bert Meeker was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1875.
• Barbara Meeker: Barbara Meeker is an Emmy Award-winning TV producer and network executive. She served as the Executive Vice President of Business Affairs at CBS, President at Columbia TriStar, President at USA Network, and executive producer of the series Dawson’s Creek.
• Pat Meeker: Pat Meeker is a former Olympic diver who performed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Mason Meeker: Mason Meeker is a retired National Hockey League player who played for teams such as the Buffalo Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks.
• Robert Meeker: Robert Meeker is a retired professional American football player who played for the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys.
• Louise Meeker: Louise Meeker was an American screenwriter, film producer, and director who worked on films such as A House of Grief in 1918 and The Fighting Chance in 1925.
• John Meeker: John Meeker was the mayor of Flint, Michigan, from 1922 to 1925.
• Jenna Meeker: Jenna Meeker is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She is best known for her work in the band The Still Want You.

Other surnames

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