Surname Roemer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Roemer: What does the surname Roemer mean?
The last name Roemer is of German origin, and is thought to refer to the root "rone," meaning "famous." The name originated from an ancient Germanic personal name, likely consisting of two elements—Rōdigar, meaning "famous spear," and mēr, meaning "famous."
The name refers to a person's ancestor, and it first appeared in a written record in the 12th century. As such, the origins of the name are ancient, probably referring to a warrior who was known for his skill with a spear. In some cases, the name may be derived from a local geographical feature.
The name could also refer to a person who works with a wheel or a spindle, or possibly a person who worked with rummers. Rummer is an old-fashioned Germanic term for a wine bottle, referring to someone who worked with drinking vessels.
In modern times, the last name Roemer is still found in Germany, as well as in other areas in Europe. It is also popular in the United States, where many Germans emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries. The name likely reflects a person's ancestral origin, as well as their possible occupation or local geographical feature.
Order DNA origin analysisRoemer: Where does the name Roemer come from?
The last name Roemer is a German name deriving from the personal name "Römer" which is a nickname for someone with Roman ancestry. Today, the Roemer surname is found mainly in Germany, but it is also fairly common in areas once settled by German immigrants such as the United States, Canada, Austria, and Switzerland.
In the United States, the Roemer name is most commonly found in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, likely due to large number of German immigrants who initially settled this area. According to the U.S. Census, Roemer is the 12,490th most common surname in the country and is most common in Ohio, followed by Michigan and Indiana. The state with the highest percentage of Roemers relative to its population is Wisconsin, with 0.022%.
In Canada, Roemer appears to be predominantly located in Ontario, likely due to its proximity to the American Midwest. Additionally, many more recent German immigrants to Canada appear to have settled in the country's western provinces, such as British Columbia and Alberta.
Overall, Roemer is a fairly common surname in those regions with a long Germanic heritage, but it is nevertheless still a distinctive and unique name.
Variations of the surname Roemer
The surname Roemer has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants of the name are: Roemer, Römer, Romer, Romeyer, Ramauer, Ramero, Rommers, and Romoer.
The spelling of the surname can change depending upon the particular region it is used in. In Germany for example, both 'Roemer' and 'Römer' are used.
The variants of the Roemer surname can be traced back to multiple roots. The Germanic root 'hrod (fame)' is the origin of the names such as Rhomer, Rom and Romer. The French names Romoer, Romoert, Romoers, Romoleg and Romal are derived from the Latin Romarus (Roman citizen). Other variants are derived from the Germanic 'hramn' (raven) or 'hraban' (screech owl) such as Romeyer, Rommers and Ramauer.
Other surnames that have similarities to Roemer are: Raimer, Rahm, Rahmerer, Rhoner, Rayner, Rein, Ramhorst, Rahmen, and Roehmer.
Over the years, the spelling of the Roemer surname has changed, making tracing it difficult at times. While the common usage is with two m's, it can appear with a umlaut, one m, and also with an 'a' instead of an 'o'. Whatever variant it appears in, this is a surname with a long and rich history.
Famous people with the name Roemer
- Eduard von Roemer: (1818-1891) German geologist & paleontologist who put forward a new theory concerning the origin of the earth and its geological features.
- Charles Römer: (1832-1911) German inventor and pioneer of the modern bicycle.
- Rudy Römer: (1913-1974) German film actor best known for his role in "Die Abenteuer des Huck Finn" (1951).
- Bill Römer: (born 1928) American chemist who discovered the principle of electrophilic aromatic substitution.
- Rudi Roemer: (1917–2001 ; born Rudolf Römer) East German political leader.
- Wolf Römer: (born 1939) German arachnologist & medical entomologist.
- Gwendolyn Römer: (born 1946) German classical pianist.
- David Roemer: (born 1958) American photographer and magazine creative director.
- Thomas Römer: (born 1954) French biblical scholar and professor of Hebrew Bible at the Collège de France.
- Amanda Roemer: (born 1972) English-American actress best known for her roles in "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." and "My Name Is Earl".