Surname Meer - Meaning and Origin
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Meer: What does the surname Meer mean?
The last name Meer is an Anglo-Saxon name of Germanic origin, believed to be derived from old Germanic word meri which means lake or sea. It is possible that the bearers of this name found in different parts of the world had roots in ancient Saxon and Viking settlements of the Northern Germanic regions.
The name is believed to have first appeared in North America as settlers from Germany, the Netherlands, England and Ireland began arriving in the 1700s. The name was in use by families living in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York and Wisconsin, amongst other states.
The most common profession associated with the name Meer is that of a merchant. This is supported by the fact that many Meers owned shops during the middle of 17th century in colonial America. It is also possible that the name may have initially have been used as an occupational title for the owners of stores, or simply members of wealthy merchant families.
In modern times, the name Meer is not used widely, however its prominence has remained constant in some parts of the world. It is amongst the top surnames in India and Pakistan, and is also represented in many countries across Europe. Generally, the surname is seen as a sign of strength, courage and ambition, similar to the ancient Norse invaders who took on the last name as they explored new frontiers.
Order DNA origin analysisMeer: Where does the name Meer come from?
The last name Meer is most commonly found in parts of Northern Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. In Germany it is spelled Meir or Meyer and is the sixth most popular surname with roughly 193,000 people having it. In the Netherlands it is the 5th most popular surname and is spelled Meijer or Meyer, with approximately 180,000 people having the name. In Denmark, the spelling is Mejer and it is the 78th most popular surname with just over 9,000 people having it. In addition to this, numerous countries with sizable German, Dutch, or Danish immigrant populations have large numbers of people with the surname Meer, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Notably, in the United States it is the 12,247th most popular surname, with just over 20,000 people having it. Thus, the last name Meer is most commonly found throughout parts of Northern Europe with large Germanic speaking populations as well as many countries with large populations of Germanic speaking immigrants.
Variations of the surname Meer
The surname Meer has many interesting variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Aside from Meer, one of the first and most common variants for this surname is Mayer. It is derived from the Middle High German word “meiger” which means “Mayor” or “Steward”. Additionally, the surname Meer has its Swedish equivalent “Maer” while the Dutch version of the surname is “Meyer.” Other variants include “Maier” in German, “Mejer” in Yiddish, and “Majer” in Polish.
The alternate spellings of Meer include Meier, Meire, Maiers, Meires, Majers, and Mairs. These spellings are similar to each other but often have subtle changes in pronunciation and pronunciation in different languages or regions.
Surnames of the same origin as Meer include Maier, Müller, Mayr, Mueller, Meyer, and Muler. The last two of these have also been used as surname versions of Meer.
Additionally, there are a variety of surnames related to Meer which may have different roots but are similar in appearance. Major, Mahal, Maegher, Meunier, and Miranda are all related surnames to Meer.
Overall, the surname Meer has had many interesting variations and spellings that have lasted throughout the centuries. These many variations provide interesting insight into the history of the surname and allows us to trace the different changes in spelling over time.
Famous people with the name Meer
- Yash Raj Meer: Yash Raj Meer is an Indian cinematographer working in Bollywood. He has worked on films such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), 2 States (2014), Sultan (2016), Padmaavat (2018), Thugs of Hindostan (2018) and Laal Kaptaan (2019).
- Imke Meer: Imke Meer is an actress best known for her roles in the films Home Sweet Home (2012), Zombie Honeymoon (2014) and Little Gay Boy (2013).
- Abhishek Meer: Abhishek Meer is an Indian singer and composer who has worked on films such as Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003), Bhag Milkha Bhag (2013) and Fan (2016).
- Tushar Meer: Tushar Meer is an Indian actor best known for his roles in the films Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), Dhadkan (2000) and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001).
- Anushka Meer: Anushka Meer is an Indian fashion designer who is known for her aesthetic, contemporary designs. She has dressed celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt and many more.
- Devendra Meer: Devendra Meer is an Indian television producer and director who has produced shows such as Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat (1997), Balika Vadhu (2008) and Pavitra Rishta (2009).
- Gopal Meer: Gopal Meer is an Indian documentary filmmaker best known for his works on subjects such as nature conservation, mental health and tribal rights. He directed the documentary The Road to Mushahri (2016) which won the Best Documentary Film award at the Indian National Film Awards.