Surname Rothmayr - Meaning and Origin
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Rothmayr: What does the surname Rothmayr mean?
The last name Rothmayr is of German origin and is derived from the Old German elements "hrod" meaning "fame" and "mar" meaning "famous." In some cases, the surname may have derived from a place named Rothermar. It is also possible that it developed in combination with the Old German "mager" and derived from the elements "hrod" and "mager" combined, meaning "famous one."
In the Middle Ages, the use of surnames became increasingly popular. By the 1500s, some families had begun using last names to pass their status and heritage from generation to generation. As populations increased and families moved away from home, the last name became one of the most important ways to identify and distinguish people from one another. Thus, the Rothmayr last name was most likely adopted by people wishing to immortalize their renown by taking on this name.
Today, Rothmayr is still a popular name among German-speaking people. The name is found throughout Europe, though it is more commonly seen in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Alsace. There are also families with this name living in Michigan, USA, as well as in Canada and Australia, which suggests an increased global dispersal of the name through travel and migration.
Order DNA origin analysisRothmayr: Where does the name Rothmayr come from?
The Rothmayr surname is believed to have originated in Germany, and is most commonly found today in that country. The surname has also been found in larger numbers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and South Africa. There is evidence of Rothmayrs living in the United States beginning in the 1880s, though the name does not appear to have been common.
In Germany today, the surname Rothmayr has grown to represent around 1 in every 20,000 people. The vast majority of those bearing the Rothmayr name continue to live in the historic Germanic-speaking regions of Germany, such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, Hesse, and Baden-Wurttemberg. From here, it is possible to trace the Rothmayr surname back to its possible origin, the city of Rottweil in what is now Baden-Württemberg.
Rothmayrs in the United States today are mostly descendants of German immigrants who came to the country during the 19th century. Some Austrian immigrants also carried the Rothmayr surname in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Rothmayr name is now relatively rare outside of the areas where it has been used traditionally, though it is still possible to find individuals carrying the name in various countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Rothmayr
The surname Rothmayr is derived from the German word rother maier, which means ‘red mayor’. The surname is found mainly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States, with variants including Rothemaier, Rothemeyer, Rote Meer, Rote Meier, Rothmaier, Rothermaier, Rothermeyer, and Rothemeier.
In Germany, the earliest known appearance of the surname was in 1286, when one Perso nomine Rothmeyr was mentioned in the codes of the German empire. A few generations later, in 1475, Johann Rothmeyr of Schwabach (Germany) had his name mentioned.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly spelled Rothmaier, Rothmeyer or Rothermaier. It is estimated that some thousand people with this surname are currently living in the United States.
There are also a few other variants of spelling of the surname, such as Rotmair, Rothmayr, Rothemeir, Rothhaier, Rothemair, Rothemayr, Rothemeier, Rothemier, Rotthammer, Rothmayer, Rotmayer, Rothmeir and Rothmeyre.
The Rothmaier family is known for their involvement in the cultural, political, and religious life of the German-speaking countries over the generations. It is believed to be one of the oldest families in Austria and in the United States of German-Austrian origin.
Famous people with the name Rothmayr
- Kathrin Rothmayr: Austrian professional ice hockey player.
- Jürgen Rothmayr: German entrepreneur and politician.
- Robert Rothmayr: Austrian racing cyclist and bronze medalist of the 1973 UCI Road World Championships.
- Pia Rothmayr: Swiss snowboarder and alpine ski racer.
- Frank Rothmayr: German singer, composer and songwriter.
- Robert Rothmayr: German rower and bronze medalist of the 1989 World Rowing Championships.
- Heinrich Rothmayr: Austrian violinist and conductor.
- Erich Rothmayr: Austrian weightlifter and bronze medalist of the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Martin Rothmayr: Italian photographer and digital artist.
- Ingeborg Rothmayr: Austrian artist, teacher and curator.