Surname Gerkenmeier - Meaning and Origin
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Gerkenmeier: What does the surname Gerkenmeier mean?
The last name Gerkenmeier is a German surname derived from the elements ger, meaning "spear", and meier, referring to the farming role of a "mayor". This occupation name refers to someone who was responsible for a particular area in medieval times, administering the land, ensuring taxes were paid, and protecting the property.
The Gerkenmeier surname is made up of two components: ger, meaning "spear," and meier, which refers to a mayor. These two components reflect the Germanic origin of the last name. The ger portion of the name likely refers to someone with a military background or was part of a military family. The meier portion of the name is more likely to refer to someone who was in charge of administering a local area, likely a village or town, in which he protected and made sure the taxes were paid.
Gerkenmeier is a fairly uncommon name, likely sourced to the Gerken mountainous region, just outside of the city of Hamburg. Records of the name go back to at least the mid-1800s and some of the earliest known bearers of the name come from the Northern German Coast.
Gerkenmeier is a unique and rare name, indicating descent from an ancestor with a strong sense of responsibility, whether through military service or management of a local area. It is a historically rich name that will powerfully link individuals to their German heritage for centuries to come.
Order DNA origin analysisGerkenmeier: Where does the name Gerkenmeier come from?
The last name Gerkenmeier is most commonly found in Germany. German records from as early as the 16th century show individuals bearing the surname Gerkenmeier. Gerkenmeier was also found in areas of what is now Belgium and Switzerland during the same period.
Today, Gerkenmeier is concentrated mainly in northern Germany. The highest concentrations of the Gerkenmeier surname are in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. There are also some individuals with this surname further south, especially in Bavaria.
Outside of Germany, the surname Gerkenmeier is most common in the United States and Canada. The United States Census of 2000 counted 557 individuals bearing this surname, mainly in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, New York and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, Gerkenmeier is found concentrated mainly in Ontario and Alberta. Most of the individuals with this surname in Canada trace their ancestors back to Germany. This suggests that most of the individuals bearing this surname outside of Germany are direct descendants of German immigrants who first brought the name to North America in the 18th century.
Variations of the surname Gerkenmeier
Gerkenmeier is a German surname likely of Lower Saxon origin. The surname is believed to have derived from the personal name Gerbrand or Gerkin with the suffix “meier” meaning “mayor”.
Variants of the surname Gerkenmeier include Gerkanmeier, Garkenmayer, Gerkenmayer, and Garkenmeier.
There may be spelling variations of the surname Gerkenmeier which are Gerkanmeir, Gerkenmeyr, Garkenmayr, Garkenmeir, Gerkenmeir, and Gerkanmeyr.
There are a few additional surnames which may be alternative spellings of Gerkenmeier and these are Gerkinmeyer, Gerkmanier, Garkanmeier, Gerkmanmeyer, Gerkmanier, and Garkenmier.
The surnames Gerkmaner and Gerkmanier are believed to be derived from the same root as well and can also be considered variants of the Gerkenmeier surname.
The Lower Saxon patronymic surnames Gerkenmey, Gerkinmay, and Gerkmanay indicate that the surname Gerkenmeier could also refer to descendants or relatives of someone with this name.
The Gerkenmeier surname is likely to be found in many areas of Germany and Austria due to its Lower Saxon origins. A few other countries with the surname Gerkenmeier are Denmark, the US, Canada, Sweden, and Norway.
Famous people with the name Gerkenmeier
- Ivanka Trump Gerkenmeier: Ivanka Trump is a fashion designer, author, and former reality television personality, who is the daughter of US President Donald Trump.
- Carl D. Gerkenmeier: Carl D. Gerkenmeier is a former American football player who played college football at the University of Toledo.
- Robert Gerkenmeier: Robert Gerkenmeier is a former professional American football player who played linebacker and defensive end for seven seasons in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers.
- Taylor Gerkenmeier: Taylor Gerkenmeier is an American actor, known for his roles in the films The Abduction of Jennifer Grayson and The Final Guys.
- Richard Gerkenmeier: Richard Gerkenmeier is an American actor, best known for his role in the 1988 science fiction film Stargate.
- David Gerkenmeier: David Gerkenmeier is an American painter and sculptor working primarily in the style of the Abstract Expressionists.
- James Gerkenmeier: James Gerkenmeier is an American composer, pianist, and educator.
- Thomas Gerkenmeier: Thomas Gerkenmeier is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for various clubs in Germany, Norway and the United States.
- William Gerkenmeier: William Gerkenmeier was a German-born American film actor who appeared in more than 70 films between 1929 and 1947.
- Lou Gerkenmeier: Lou Gerkenmeier was an American football running back who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts.