Surname Nortmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Nortmeier: What does the surname Nortmeier mean?
The last name Nortmeier has German roots and is derived from the name "Nordmeier." The name is a combination of the German words "Nord" and "Meier," which literally mean "northern" and "master" or "mayor."
The word "Nord" is thought to have originally referred to migration out of the north of Germany. Those of this name were likely at one point traveling from the north, interested in making a new life for themselves either in Europe or elsewhere in the world.
Looking at the second word, "Meier" ['My-er], we can infer that these individuals had some level of wealth, a comfortable life, and a certain standing in the community. This word usually referred to the local lord or mayor of a village or city.
Altogether, the name Nortmeier means "the lord (or mayor) who migrated from the north," suggesting a family legacy and history of bravery, ambition, and strength. It is likely that these individuals were among the first to make the move from Germany in search of more opportunity, and their descendants still bear their family name proudly.
Order DNA origin analysisNortmeier: Where does the name Nortmeier come from?
The surname Nortmeier is most commonly found in Germany today, where it is one of the most widely-spread surnames in the country. Whilst exact numbers of how many people bear the name are hard to come by, in some areas it is said to be the surname of around 1 in every 500 people.
The name is believed to have originated in the area now known as North Rhine-Westphalia, an area popularly known as the Rhineland, located in western Germany. Over time, the name spread across Germany and more broadly across Europe. In recent years, however, there has been a significant increase in numbers of the name in Germany, particularly in the more populous regions.
The prevalence of the name Nortmeier in Germany today is testament to the far-reaching prevalence of German emigration around the world, with people bearing the name settling in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and more. As such, the name can be found in many places around the world today.
Variations of the surname Nortmeier
The surname Nortmeier is a German surname with several original variants, spellings, and derivative surnames from other countries. The original German variants of the surname are Nortmeyer, Nortmaier, Nortmejer, and Nortmeer. From the German version of the name came additional variations like Nortmayer and Nurtmeyer.
In English-speaking countries, the surname is usually written as Nortmeier, although there are some variant spellings, like Nortmayer, Nortemeyer, and Nortmeyor. Most of these variations are found in the United States today, and can be traced back to German immigrants who arrived in the states in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The surname Nortmeier has several other derivative and related names stemming from the original German form. These include Nurtmeier, Mortmeyer, Mortmejer, Mortmeer, Mortmayer, Mortemeyer and Mortmeyor.
Some international variations of the name have become popular in countries like France, where the surname is spelled as Nordeymier. Other variants, like Normeyer, are found in countries like Belgium and the Netherlands.
In Russia, a version of the surname is spelled as Nortmeer. There are also versions of the name found in other Slavic countries like Ukraine, Poland and Latvia. These variations include Nortmijer, Nortmiyer and Nurtmiyer.
Finally, the surname Nortmeier is also found among Jewish populations around the world, appearing as Nortmeier, Nortmayer or Nortmaier, or in other similar versions.
Famous people with the name Nortmeier
- Martin Nortmeier: politician from the German CDU party and member of the Bundestag (German Parliament).
- Julian Nortmeier: award-winning animator, director, and visual designer.
- Kay Nortmeier: founder and chairwoman of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
- Edgar Nortmeier: historian, journalist and professor at the Goethe University Frankfurt.
- Leonie Nortmeier: professional race car driver and winner of the German Sports Car Championship.
- Norbert Nortmeier: German singer and songwriter.
- Jan-Patrick Nortmeier: conductor and founder of the Nortmeier Philharmonic orchestra.
- Klaus Nortmeier: President of the German Paralympic Committee and Paralympic athlete.
- Andreas Nortmeier: entrepreneur and founder of the entrepreneurial education platform CoWorks.
- Klaas Nortmeier: folk musician and founder of the band Chancellor & Sons.