Surname Nehmeyer - Meaning and Origin
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Nehmeyer: What does the surname Nehmeyer mean?
The last name Nehmeyer is of German origin, derived from Middle High German names. It is thought to be composed of two elements, 'nehme' and 'meiger', meaning 'take' and 'mayor' respectively. This suggests that an early name-bearer may have held a prestigious office or position of power in an ancient German village.
Numerous variations of the name can be found, such as 'Nehmiger', 'Nehmeijer', 'Nehdmeijer' and 'Nehmayer', showing that it has changed and spread across Europe over hundreds of years. Those who bear it are likely to have distant relatives in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands, and possibly other European countries too.
Given its origin, the last name Nehmeyer is generally understood to imply someone who is respected and revered as a leader or a mayor in their hometown. This would have been a title of honour dating back centuries, which has been passed down through the generations to provide a sense of belonging and significance to its modern descendants.
Those with the last name Nehmeyer are therefore likely to have a strong sense of identity and community, and may feel proud of their family's history. Although the name itself may have changed over time, its core composition and symbolism are likely to have endured.
Order DNA origin analysisNehmeyer: Where does the name Nehmeyer come from?
The last name Nehmeyer is most common today in Germany, where it is the 1,385th most common surname. It is also found in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, where it ranks as the 12,794th most common surname. However, the fewest occurrences of Nehmeyer are in North America. In Canada, it ranks at 16,776th most common while it does not make an appearance in the top 10,000 last names in the United States.
It is believed that the Nehmeyer surname originated from the area that is now part of the modern-day German states of Hesse or Thuringia, and descends from the Old German male name Niemeyer. The suffix ‘-er’ in the name is a common occupational term in German-speaking areas, suggesting this name likely denoted a person who “farmed” land or who was a “landowner” back in the Middle Ages when it was first given.
Nehmeyer is a relatively uncommon last name, and its occurrence in differing parts of the world suggests that it was likely distributed by families beyond the town or region in which it may have first originated. This could have arisen from those bearing the last name traveling to new areas during the Middle Ages, or from those migrating from Europe to North America during the 1700s and 1800s.
Variations of the surname Nehmeyer
The surname Nehmeyer is an unusual and uncommon name. It is an occupational surname, derived from the German word ‘nehme’ meaning ‘taker’. The name has a variety of variants and spellings across Europe, usually originating from the same geographic region.
The most common spelling of the surname is Neumeyer, which is found throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Other spellings that are derived from Neumeyer include Neumeier, Neumey, Neumeyar, and Naumeyer.
The French variant of this surname is Nommez. This spelling is found mainly in the French-speaking provinces of Switzerland, and is derived from the French word ‘nommé’ meaning ‘named’.
The Dutch version of the surname Nehmeyer is written as Neumayer, which is also sometimes spelled as Neumeijer. The Dutch spelling is derived from the German word ‘Naumen’, which was commonly used by Dutch people to refer to their superiors. This spelling of the name is found mainly in the Netherlands.
In Spain and Portugal, the surname is typically spelled as Noemieer. This spelling of the name is derived from the Latin word ‘nomine’, which is also related to the French word ‘nommé’.
Finally, in Scandinavia, the spelling of the name is Nuumejer. This version of the name is derived from the Old Norse word ‘nauma’, meaning ‘priest’.
So, in conclusion, the surname Nehmeyer has several variants and spellings across Europe, usually originating from the same geographic region. The most common spellings are Neumeyer, Nommez, Neumayer, Noemieer, and Nuumejer.
Famous people with the name Nehmeyer
- Christian Nehmeyer: A German football player who has played internationally for teams such as VfL Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen.
- Wilhelm Nehme: A politician in the German state of Saxony from 1920 to 1933.
- Henning Nehme: A professional German swimmer who competed nationally as well as internationally, representing Germany in the 2006 Summer Olympics in Athens.
- Sebastian Nehme: An actor known for his roles in films like The Silent Mountain, Run Boy Run, and Annabelle Comes Home.
- Dorothea Nehme: A German actress known for her roles in movies like Jule and Bride Flight.
- Benjamin Nehme: An actor and filmmaker from German-Speaking Switzerland.
- Leonhard Nehme: A German athlete who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, as a member of the German Nordic combined team.
- Marcel Nehme: An Lebanese soccer player who had a successful playing career in the German Bundesliga and later moved to Australia.
- Max Nehme: A professional Swiss basketball player who was a key member of the Swiss National Team in the 2010–2011 season.
- Jean Nehme: A renowned Lebanese architect and interior designer who has designed many award-winning projects in the Middle East and Europe.