Surname Freymeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Freymeyer: What does the surname Freymeyer mean?
The last name Freymeyer is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German term "frei-meiger", referring to an official responsible for keeping watch of the fields and monitoring the activities of the local farmers. This position then developed into a surname, since it was customary to identify a person by the occupation they held.
The name Freymeyer likely originated in Northern Germany, most likely in the region of Holstein. This was an area that endured frequent wars, and thus was prone to the influence of its often-changing rulers. The name Freymeyer could have taken on a variety of alternate spellings due to mishearings and mistranscriptions as it traveled through time and cultures.
The surname Freymeyer likely encapsulates the idea of protecting a common resource. Today, the name Freymeyer is widely found throughout Germany as well as parts of the United States and Canada. Those who bear this name today can look to their ancestors and see a deep history of protecting and defending what is valuable and important to society.
Order DNA origin analysisFreymeyer: Where does the name Freymeyer come from?
The last name Freymeyer is most commonly associated with Germany. Records suggest the name originates from Lower Saxony in northern Germany. The earliest known origin of this surname dates back to medieval times when individuals were referred to by their full given name in order to distinguish them from other members of the same family. Evidence is also found of the name in Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and other Germanic countries.
Today, the name Freymeyer is most commonly found in the following countries and regions: Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Northern France, Belgium, and the United States. In the US, the name Freymeyer is concentrated mainly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Delaware.
In Germany, the name is relatively more common in the states of Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia. With modern day familial movements of German citizens to other countries, the name of Freymeyer is also found in Australia and Canada.
Due to its popularity in earlier centuries, the Freymeyer family name has branched out and can now be found amongst other ethnicities, albeit still associated with European origins. As a result of this, this surname is well travelled, with its name still being passed down from generation to generation.
Variations of the surname Freymeyer
The most common variants, spellings, and surnames of Freymeyer are Freymeier, Friemeyer, Freymaier, Fraymeyer, Friemeier, Freimayer, and Freimayer. All of these are derived from the same Old German name Freyo. The surname Freymeyer is thought to refer to an ancestor from Freyo, which was a compound of the words "frey" and "mayer" and meant "free overseer", or someone who holds sway over a free manor.
The name also may have came in due to a feudal status of a land holder - from the German words frei and meiere in which the landholder had autonomy with his domain and owed allegiance only to the King.
Freimayr (Freymayer, Freimayer) is a German noble family originating in the villages of Niederhosenbach, Bartenbach, and Oberhosenbach in Franconia, Bavaria. The family is believed to have descended from the Freyo Clan of 8th century Bavaria. The earliest known Freeman family member was John Freimayer of Bartenbach, who was born in 1662. His descendants spread throughout Germany, often taking on variant spellings of the surname, such asannie of Mecklenburg in 1640, and the Baron of Eylenberg in 1690.
Variations of the surname Freymeyer include Freymayr, Freymeier, Freimeyer, Fraymeyer, Freimayer, Feimayer, Freimayr, Frymeyer, Frymayr, and FreiMaier. While they all stem from the same name, they each have separate lineages with their own unique family history.
Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Freymeyer told stories of lords and lower ranking villagers in Medieval Germany. It was derived from the word “Freyo” (free manor) and may have also be used to indicate a feudal status of a land holder. It’s spellings have since evolved to be Freymayr, Freimeyer, Freimayer, etc.
Famous people with the name Freymeyer
- Raimund Freymeyer: German former footballer who featured for numerous clubs including FC Koln and Fortuna Dusseldorf between 1953 and 1970.
- Ingo Freymeyer: German retired professional footballer, having played for 1860 Munich and Alemannia Aachen in the Bundesliga.
- Leonhard Freymeyer: German painter, sculptor and conservationist from the 18th century.
- John G. Freymeyer: United States Airforce officer, serving as commander of the 506th Fighter Group during World War II.
- Max Freymeyer: Austrian slalom canoeist who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
- Kailin Freymeyer: American professional techno and progressive house DJ and music producer.
- Edward Freymeyer: American former child actor who played Calvin in the 1994 film Bink.
- Verta Kane Freymeyer: American primatologist and professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
- Carl Freymeyer: American professional golfer who competed in the PGA Tour from 1963 to 1968.
- Lorraine Freymeyer: American artist who uses digital media, photography, sculpture and installation art to create her works.