Surname Meinema - Meaning and Origin
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Meinema: What does the surname Meinema mean?
The last name Meinema is of Dutch, German, and Frisian origin. It is derived from the Old German word 'mein', which means 'mine' or 'belonging to me'. This name is believed to have originally been used as a sign of ownership, indicating that someone was 'my' or belonged to an individual.
The name is most common in the Netherlands, but is also found in Germany and other European countries. It can refer to a person who exhibits traits of being independent and strong-willed. People with this last name may be seen as trailblazers with a pioneering spirit and ambition. In a business setting, they may excel due to their confident ambition and unwillingness to back down from a challenge.
Meinema family members might be characterized as witty, humorous, and generous. They could be enjoying socializing and interacting with people, but also appreciate time to themselves. Generally speaking, those who have this surname tend to be determined, decisive, and honest. They are likely to be hardworking and value taking the initiative to achieve success.
Order DNA origin analysisMeinema: Where does the name Meinema come from?
The surname Meinema is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, especially along the country’s northern coast. It occurs with some frequency in the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe. The name is derived from the Old German “minemann”, meaning “my man”. The precise origin of this surname is lost to history.
The name’s presence in the Netherlands likely dates back to the period after the 16th century when Dutch surnames began to emerge as distinct family lineages. During the 19th century, this name was associated with a better quality of life and status from the countryside of Friesland and Groningen. It also appears in records of heraldry and arms in the Netherlands, tracing branches of the family to medieval times.
Today, Meinema is most commonly found in the Netherlands; however, it has spread to other parts of the world as the Dutch have migrated. For instance, this last name can be found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, to name but a few.
In 2015, the Meinema surname was estimated to have over 3,000 bearers in the Netherlands, and this number continues to grow.
Variations of the surname Meinema
Meinema is an old Dutch or Frisian surname, derived from the personal name Meine, which is a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element magin, meaning "power, strength." Over time, the Meinema surname has developed numerous spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant spellings of Meinema are Meinemann, Meinemeyer, Meinemeyers, Meinemans and Meinemant. In the Netherlands, It is also sometimes seen spelled as Meynaema, Meynaemann and Maynamann.
In Germany, the variants include Menema, Menemeier, Menemeyer, Menemeyers and Menemans. In the United States, there is the Menema spelling that is seen predominantly among people of Dutch ancestry.
In England, Scotland and Ireland, Meinema is often rendered as Mainman, Mainames, Mainemanns, Maineyer, Mainers, Maines, Mainham, Mainley, Manely, Maneman and Manney.
In France, the variants include Meinemah, Menimah and Meneimah.
In Norway, the variants include Meinemo, Minemo and Minemoer.
In Denmark, the variants include Meninger, Meninger, Meininger, Meiniger and Meinnger.
In Sweden, the variant is Minema.
In Italy, the variant is Mainema.
In Finland, the variant is Meinäma.
Regardless of its variant spelling, Meinema remains a unique surname that has been in use since the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Meinema
- Jente Meinema: Dutch professional football player;
- Marije Meinema: Dutch competitive sailor in the 2012 Summer Olympics;
- Douwe Meinema: Dutch landscape painter of the Neo-Romantic Movement;
- Willem Meinema: Dutch photographer known for his landscape and portraiture photography;
- Roel Meinema: Dutch fantasy artist active in the Netherlands and the Netherland Antilles;
- Rena Meinema: Dutch-American television presenter active on Dutch television;
- Ricardo Meinema: Dutch music producer and record label executive;
- Irene Meinema: Dutch fashion model, appeared in the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue;
- Julian Meinema: Dutch architect active in the city of Rotterdam;
- Marco Meinema: Dutch historian active in the field of medieval manuscript studies.