Surname Meyerhofer - Meaning and Origin
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Meyerhofer: What does the surname Meyerhofer mean?
Meyerhofer is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the German word meyer which means "steward" or "operating manager". The suffix hofer is likely derived from the word Hof, meaning "estate" or "manor". Thus, the Meyerhofer name literally translates to "steward of the manor". The name is derived from those individuals who managed estates for their lords during medieval times. It was a specific position in the court and usually holders of this title would have lots of responsibility when it came to the financial, political, and social aspects of the manor's life.
The name is found predominately in Germany and Austria, but was also adopted by other countries in Central Europe. In England, the surname could be found as Mayer, Maire, Meiser or Myrer. In the United States, many bearers of the name Meyerhofer shortened it to Myer or Myerhof.
Since the late 20th century, the use of the Meyerhofer surname has decreased, as more people view it as an old-fashioned given name. However, those who bear the name Meyerhofer still carry the history and pride of their ancestors. They often honor their German roots by seeking out the exact meanings of their surnames or visiting their ancestral homelands as a way of truly undertaking the full scope of their family's past.
Order DNA origin analysisMeyerhofer: Where does the name Meyerhofer come from?
The last name Meyerhofer is found in both Europe and the United States. In Germany, the name is present in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and Bavaria. In Austria, the name is most commonly found in Salzburg, Lower Austria, Styria, and Vienna. In Switzerland, it is most commonly found in Zurich, Aargau, Bern, and Basel-Stadt.
In the United States, Meyerhofer families are most commonly found in New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California. The name is also present in Washington, Illinois, Oregon, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and elsewhere.
Tracing the migration patterns of Meyerhofer families reveals that they have traveled mainly from Germany and Austria to the United States and Canada. German and Austrian families began to immigrate to the United States, particularly from the early 19th century onwards. Meyerhofer families were among the many that left Europe in search of new lives and opportunities.
Today, Meyerhofer families can be found around the world, with descendants maintaining the name in many countries. Tracing their family tree may even reveal a connection between members of the Meyerhofer family across continents.
Variations of the surname Meyerhofer
Meyerhofer is a German surname that can take many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common is Meyerhoffer, however other variations include Mayrhofer, Meierhofer, Maierhofen and Maierhofer. It is also known to take the Anglicized spelling of Mayerhoffer or Meyerhoffer in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania.
The earliest known occurrences of this name date back to 1407 in Bavaria, where a Kunigamunda Meyerhofer was recorded. It is likely that the name is derived from the German word meyer, which means mayor or steward. This suggests that the family may have originally been administrators or mayors of some kind.
The name continues to be used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and various other parts of the world. In Germany and Austria it can also be spelled Maierhofer or Mairhofer, while in Switzerland it is Maierhofen. In the United States, where the name has been anglicized, it may also spell as Mayerhoffer or Meyerhoffer.
Overall, the surname Meyerhofer can be found in many different forms and spellings, depending on where the surname holder originated. It is important to note that a lot of variations of this name can still be traced back to the same origin, which is the German word meyer.
Famous people with the name Meyerhofer
- Ben Meyerhofer, an American entrepreneur, speaker, author, and investor best known as the co-founder of Unsplash, a free stock photography website.
- Lloyd Meyerhofer, an American attorney and expert on family law who has published extensively on the subject.
- Daniel Meyerhofer, the president and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.
- Chuck Meyerhofer, a National League baseball umpire.
- Meghan Meyerhofer, a British actress best known for her role as Melina in the Netflix Original Series, Stranger Things.
- Chris Meyerhofer, a noted American software development consultant and author.
- Claudine Meyerhofer, the founder and CEO of the fashion label Liberty London Girl.
- Vivien Meyerhofer, a German singer-songwriter and visual artist.
- Ross Meyerhofer, the lead singer and guitarist of the pop punk band New Found Glory.
- David Meyerhofer, a German entrepreneur and co-founder of HelloFresh, a meal-kit delivery service.