Surname Niermeyer - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Niermeyer: What does the surname Niermeyer mean?
The name Niermeyer is a German surname, derived from the Old German word nier, meaning 'to mow.' This likely refers to someone in the family having been a professional mower in the past. This could have been either an agriculture worker, or a forester, or someone who cut grass for livestock.
The meaning of this name could also be interpreted as an occupational title for an arms smith. In the German language, a nier means to forge or to shape metal. This may have been a more likely occupation, as surveys and census records in the late 19th century reveal that the Niermeyer family was heavily involved in the iron and steel industry, particularly in the form of metalsmithing. Examples of their work can still be found today in a number of towns and cities in Germany, as well as in other parts of the continent.
From an etymology perspective, Niermeyer can be translated to 'One from the mowing family' or 'One of the inexperienced', which is thought to refer to a younger member of the family who was still a novice in his craft.
Overall, the name Niermeyer most likely has an occupational origin, indicating that its bearers are descended from metalworking artisans or grass cutters.
Order DNA origin analysisNiermeyer: Where does the name Niermeyer come from?
Niermeyer is a German surname found primarily in Northern Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the United States. Specifically, it is most frequently found in the German states of Lower and North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as in Berlin. In the Netherlands, it is found in the North and East of the country. For those with ancestral connections to Scandinavia, it is likely associated with Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish immigrants who settled in the United States, typically in the Northern states.
In the United States, Niermeyer is mostly associated with Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. The name has alsobeen documented in a variety of other states including Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois, Oregon, Ohio, and New Jersey. The highest concentrations of Niermeyer in the United States are found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Worldwide, individuals with the Niermeyer surname are estimated to number over 1,000. While most individuals with the surname are found in Germany, it is possible to find individuals with the same surname scattered throughout Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Niermeyer
The surname Niermeyer is widely known and diverse due to the sheer number of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Niermeyer is the original spelling of the name, a name that was most commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is a decreasingly common surname in the Netherlands, with less than 1,000 people bearing it as their last name.
From the original Niermeyer, other similar surnames that have the same root include Niemeyer, Neumeyer, Neumeier, Neumeijer, Neimeier, Neimeyer, Niemeijer, Niemeier, Neumerinski, Niemeck, Neymeyer, Nietmeyer, Nietmeier, Neimayer, Nemme, and Nemitz.
The most common spelling variants of the surname consist of simply changing the spelling of Niermeyer, such as Niermeijer, Neermeyer, Niermier, Neerman, Neermeijer, Neermeier, Neermey, Niermeier, Niermayer, Nirmeyer, Niermaier, and Neermann.
The variation of the Netherlands/Belgium surname Niermeyer also has been found in Germany with the surname Neumeyer, and in Northern Czechoslovakia the Neumerinsky surname is its descendent.
Surnames from different countries bearing the Niermeyer origins and roots are Nevada, Naeymeyer, Naemmacher, Neymaier, Nittemeyer, in Germany, and Neyimark, Niemark, and Niimarc in the Ukraine.
Throughout the centuries, various spelling changes, sound changes, and translation errors caused by alphabet conversions and changing languages have shaped the surnames into many unique variations.
Niermeyer is an interesting and complicated surname, with its spelling and variants crossing national borders and blending through time.
Famous people with the name Niermeyer
- Jan Niermeyer: Dutch philologist and classical scholar.
- Mathieu Niermeyer: French scholar of economic history and religious studies.
- Dirk Niermeyer: German historian and biographer.
- Franz Niermeyer: German poet and playwright.
- Helmut Niermeyer: German composer.
- Athina Niermeyer: Greek TV presenter.
- Mata Niermeyer: Spanish sculptor.
- Hilda Niermeyer: Dutch painter and opera singer.
- Gernot Niermeyer: Austrian actor and director.
- Maurits Niermeyer: Dutch comic artist and animator.
- Hugo Niermeyer: Dutch historian and diplomat.
- Helga Niermeyer: German journalist and film critic.
- Ralph Niermeyer: American engineer and inventor.
- Monika Niermeyer: German singer-songwriter.
- Chet Niermeyer: American musician and songwriter.
- Dirk Niermeyer: Dutch physicist and philosopher.
- Bob Niermeyer: American painter and illustrator.
- Tim Niermeyer: American film director and cinematographer.