Surname Burmeisters - Meaning and Origin

Burmeisters: What does the surname Burmeisters mean?

The last name Burmeisters is of German origin. It derives from the Germanic word “burmeister”, which literally means “town master” and was a title given to a high-ranking official in a medieval German city. The name was typically used to indicate someone in a position of authority in a municipal government.

In later decades, the name has had various meanings and connotations, based on the context where it's used. For instance, in some countries, the name might take on a more negative undertone, for example implying a somewhat domineering and authoritarian attitude.

In times past, the name Burmeisters may have been associated in some ways with wealth or power, as these titles often carried with them a certain degree of privilege and influence. Furthermore, due to its German roots, the name may not be held in the highest regard if the individual using it has found themselves in a place with a negative attitude towards German heritage or culture.

The name Burmeisters is still seen in some places today, indicating someone in an authoritative or civic post, or simply indicating a person of Germanic origin. In modern times, the name retains some of its original nobility, but the association to power and privilege is starting to wear off, as the surnames of other countries have become just as accepted as a marker of a person’s heritage.

Burmeisters: Where does the name Burmeisters come from?

The last name Burmeisters is most commonly found in countries and regions that were once part of the German Empire. That includes Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, parts of Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. It is also found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, although there are fewer of those with Burmeisters in those countries.

According to a census conducted in 2014, there were roughly 4,700 individuals with the Burmeisters last name living in the US. Majority of them are descendants of the German immigrants who migrated to the United States in the 19th century. Around a tenth of the total Burmeisters in the US live in the Midwest, close to half in the South. Among states, Texas had the most with 805 individuals, followed by Illinois with 469 individuals.

In Germany, almost 8,000 individuals have the Burmeisters last name, making it one of the most common name in the country. These individuals are found in almost all German states, with the highest concentration of them in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

In general, the Burmeisters surname is most common in German speaking countries, especially in Germany itself. The descendants of German immigrants still inhabit the United States, Canada, and Australia, albeit in much lower numbers.

Variations of the surname Burmeisters

The surname Burmeisters is a German occupational name for a man who was a master of craftsmanship such as a blacksmith, originating from the Middle Ages.

Variants of the name include Bormeister, Bormiester, Bormeister, Bermister, Bermyster, Bermeister, Bormaster, Bormisster, Bohrmeister, Bohrmester, Bechermeister, and Bermester.

Alternate spellings for Burmeisters include Bormester, Bormäster, Bohrmister, Börmeister, Burmistter, Bermister, and Bermyster.

In other countries, surnames derived from Burmeisters include Bormāsters and Bormaisters.

The surname is found throughout the United States and parts of Canada and is also common in South Africa, Mexico, and the UK.

For those of German-Jewish ancestry, surnames derived from the Burmeisters include Birnbaum (“pear tree”), Mulitz or Mollitz (“miller”), Rochman (“carver”),and Strasser (“streets”).

In some locations, Burmeisters have become Anglicized and are found as Burmesty, Burmesters, and Burmasters.

In English records, the name is sometimes found in various variations such as Bermister, Bermeister, Bormaster, Formaster and Furnaster.

Variations of the surname from other languages and countries include Bormeister (Germany), Bormeister (Holland), Boremster (Holland), Boremser (Flanders), and Bormster (Switzerland).

Famous people with the name Burmeisters

• Paul Burmeister: American Television Journalist
• Nils Burmeisters: German photographer and artist
• Bernhard Burmeister: German poet and natural historian
• Hans Burmeister: German linguist
• Johann Burmeister: German mathematician
• Anastasius Burmeister: German Orientalist and historian
• Alfred Burmeister: German ophthalmologist
• Heinrich Burmeister: German botanist
• Wilhelm Burmeister: German zoologist

Other surnames

Burmeister