Surname Kreutzmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Kreutzmayr: What does the surname Kreutzmayr mean?
Kreutzmayr is a German surname derived from the term “Kreuzmair,” which in Old High German translates to “cross farmer.” As its namesake suggests, the name Kreutzmayr is most commonly associated with an occupation of cross farmer. The modern meaning of the name refers to a farmer who was accountable for the maintenance of roads, highways and bridges typically built around the Middle Ages. For instance, it was once common for cross farmers to receive permission from a monarchy to rebuild, restore or repair roads and bridges in exchange for unpaid labor.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname Kreutzmayr became a more widespread surname in Germany as it was adopted by many towns as a hometown surname for travelers. Many of these people that assumed the Kreutzmayr surname during the mid-19th century eventually immigrated to other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
Kreutzmayr continues to be a popular German surname in present day. It is most commonly found in both Germany and Austria with sizable congregations spread across the rest of Europe, North America and South America. Despite its strong associations with German culture, the Kreutzmayr surname is frequently adopted and used by a larger range of cultures and nationalities today.
Order DNA origin analysisKreutzmayr: Where does the name Kreutzmayr come from?
The surname Kreutzmayr is a Germanic surname, derived from the Germanic name 'Kreutzmeir'. This surname was originally used in the area of Austria and Bavaria, though is now found in much of Central and Northern Europe.
In Austria today, Kreutzmayr is particularly common in the states of Upper Austria and Lower Austria. It can also be found in the surrounding regions, such as Bavaria in Germany, Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and the Northern regions of Italy.
In the U.S., the surname Kreutzmayr is documented to have first appeared in Ellis Island records in 1885, with an Austrian family bearing the name. After this, the surname is found in pockets of the U.S. such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Nebraska, and California.
The Germanic name Kreutzmayr is also found in countries throughout the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. It is not a particularly common surname, and is more likely to be found in communities with a large Germanic or Austrian heritage, such as in the Amish and Mennonite communities of Pennsylvania, or those with a large ancestral origin in Austria or Bavaria.
Variations of the surname Kreutzmayr
Kreutzmayr is a German surname, which is thought to have originated in Bavaria, Germany. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name Kreutzmayr include Kräutzmayer, Kreutzenmayer, Kreutzmair, Kräutzmair, Kreutzenmair, Kreutzmaier, Kräutzmaier, Kreutzenmaier, Kreutzmeyer, Kräutzmeyer, Kreutzenmeyer, Kreuzmair, Kreutzmeier, Kreutzmeier, Kreutzneier, Krautzmeier, Krautzmaier, Kreuzmayr, Kreuzmayer, Kreuzmaier, Kreuzmeyer, Kreutzmyer and Krötzmayr.
This name is said to be derived from the noun ‘Kreutz’, which originally described a type of cross found inside churches. The root word ‘mayer’ is thought to mean a ‘mayor’, or someone in power, which suggests that the original Kreutzmayr family may have held certain significance or political power.
The surname Kreutzmayr is not particularly common, however it can be found in various German states, from Munich in the south to Hamburg in the north. The variants Kräutzmayer and Kreutzenmayer are the most popular spellings in Germany, whilst Kreutzmair and Kreutzmaier are the more popular spellings in Austria and Northern Germany.
Whilst the surname Kreutzmayr may have originated in Germany, it has since spread to other countries around the world and can be found scattered throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Hungary. Indeed, in the United States, the surname now has certain regional variations such as ‘Crotzman’ and ‘Crotzmyer’.
In conclusion, Kreutzmayr is a German surname with various variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The root word ‘mayer’ suggests that the original Kreutzmayr family were of particular social or political prestige, and the surname can now be found all around the world.
Famous people with the name Kreutzmayr
- Rudolf Kreutzmayr (1872-1949): Austrian botanist and taxonomist.
- Eberhard Kreutzmayr (1925-2008): Austrian politician, farmer, and civic leader.
- Johannes Kreutzmayr (1909-1996): Austrian mathematician and professor at the Technical University of Vienna.
- Oberleutnant Johann Kreutzmayr (1905-1961): German World War II pilot.
- Ferdinand Kreutzmayr (1897-1985): Austrian classical philologist and professor at the University of Vienna.
- Johann Baptist Kreutzmayr: Austrian painter in Vienna in the 19th century.
- Wolfgang Kreutzmayr (b. 1948): Austrian humanist and professor at the Prague Institute of Religion.
- Brigitte Kreutzmayr: Austrian TV personality and presenter.
- Ben Kreutzmere: American jazz musician and composer.
- Markus Kreutzmayr: German contemporary composer and professor at the University of the Arts in Berlin.