Surname Wassermeyer - Meaning and Origin

Wassermeyer: What does the surname Wassermeyer mean?

The last name Wassermeyer is of German origin and is derived from the two words "wasser" which means "water" and "meyer" which means "administrator". The combination of these two words likely refers to an administrative official in charge of managing and maintaining water sources in a given area. This could include managing wells, aqueducts, distribution systems, and other water-related public works.

In the Middle Ages, the Wassermeyer family originated in Bremen, Germany and spread throughout the country and even to other European countries. Meaning "water" and "master," the name Wassermeyer indicates that the family likely had a major role with public works waterways during that time. As a result, it is believed that the Wassermeyer family had a great influence on the development of many German cities and towns throughout Europe.

In a more modern setting, the last name Wassermeyer is still very commonly found in Germany and in many European countries. It is also found in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a testament to the name's long history that despite various political and social changes over the centuries, the name Wassermeyer has persevered and is still commonly seen today.

Wassermeyer: Where does the name Wassermeyer come from?

The last name Wassermeyer is most commonly found in Germany, where approximately 1,250 people have this surname today. It is an occupational surname, derived from the words ‘wasser’, meaning water, and ‘meyers’ meaning mayor, referring to a mayor who was responsible for managing water supplies for a city or town. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period when many towns had their own mayors and were largely self-run and independent from larger cities or provinces.

It is found primarily in the southern and western states of Germany, including Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Bavaria, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Historically, the surname has spread from the Rhineland region, where many of Germany’s medieval cities and towns were located. People with the surname Wassermeyer can also be found in smaller numbers in Austria, the Netherlands, and other areas across Europe.

Outside of Europe, Wassermeyer is most common in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, and New Jersey, where it is believed to have been brought by German immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are also small numbers of people with the surname in Canada, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, and Chile as a result of German immigration to these countries.

Variations of the surname Wassermeyer

The surname Wassermeyer has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants, spellings, and surnames can be traced back to the Middle Ages when the name was rendered as Warsemere, Wassermere, Wassermere, Wersermeer, Wessemere, Wasmermere, Wassercere, Wasermere, Wassermar, Wersmar, and Vassmer.

The surname originates from the German language and was oftentimes used as a reference to someone who was from a lake region or lived near a body of water. The meaning of the name is “waters meadow”.

The various spellings of Wassermeyer include Wassermaier, Wassemaier, Wassermeier, Wassmaier, Wasmayer, Wassmair, Wasmagher, Wassermeister, Wassermeehr, Waesmeer, Wassmee, and Wassmier.

Variations of Wassermeyer can also be found in other languages such as Dutch, Scandinavian, and Slavic. The Dutch surname Wassenmeijer is derived from the same origin and means waters meadow. Other Dutch variants include Wassenmeer, Wassemayer, Wassemaeijer, and Wassenmayer.

Variations of the surname in Scandinavian include Vassmere, Vassmerer, Vassemeyer, Voassenmeer, Vassenmeer, and Vassemier.

In Slavic languages, the surname is derived from the same origin and is spelt Vassmair.

The surname Wassermeyer is still common today and is currently held by approximately 3,077 people worldwide.

Famous people with the name Wassermeyer

• Andreas Wassermeyer: a German professional footballer
• Lauren Wassermeyer: an actress, director and producer from Australia
• Dave Wassermeyer: a former professional American football player
• Brie Wassermeyer: a former professional softball player
• Blu Wassermeyer: an American artist and musician
• Brett Wassermeyer: an astrophysicist and professor at Stanford University
• Richard Wassermeyer: a Senior Executive in the Financial Services industry
• Roland Wassermeyer: a former German artistic gymnast
• Pieter Wassermeyer: a Dutch entrepreneur
• Flo Wassermeyer: a Swiss skier
• David Wassermeyer: a wildlife photographer
• Georg Wassermeyer: a German artist
• Marek Wassermeyer: a German travel and sports photographer
• Colin Wassermeyer: an acupuncturist from Canada
• Mark Wassermeyer: a Dutch dancer and choreographer
• Jan Wassermeyer: a Danish athlete
• Lillian Wassermeyer: a German graphic designer
• John Wassermeyer: an American producer and entrepreneur
• Paulina Wassermeyer: a Swedish curator
• Jürgen Wassermeyer: a German soccer coach

Other surnames

Wassermeier