Surname Drexlmaier - Meaning and Origin

Drexlmaier: What does the surname Drexlmaier mean?

The last name Drexlmaier is derived from an old German term Drechselmeister, which means “master of the turning lathe”, referring to a profession engaged in woodworking with a lathe. It likely originated as a surname signifying a family that originated from someone who was a woodworker and a master at turning wooden objects with a lathe.

This occupation was particularly common in Bavaria and Tyrol, two regions in the German-speaking area of Europe and had been around since at least the 14th century. It was sometimes necessary to combine two different trades – carpentry and metalworking – to get the most out of the turning lathe, so “Drechselmeister” probably referred to workers of a more general “turner” or “spinner” trade.

The name Drexlmaier appears to have originated in the mid-18th century, as evidenced by certain records of the time in Germany. It is also possible that the name was derived from a different location or language, although that is difficult to confirm as the records of the time were not always very precise.

Regardless of its origin, the name Drexlmaier now signifies a long family tradition of woodworking and metalworking, as well as a unique connection to medieval Bavarian and Tyrolean history.

Drexlmaier: Where does the name Drexlmaier come from?

The last name Drexlmaier is an ancient name that is common today mainly in Germany and Austria. It is also found among other countries with Germanic lineage, such as the United States, England, Netherlands, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The meaning of the last name is believed to come from the German words 'drehen,' meaning to turn and 'Maier,' meaning Mayor or Master of the Hous. Therefore, the name literally translates to "Turner Mayor" or "Turner Master." The Drexlmaier family were believed to be metal workers in Medieval times, namely in the area of Silesia, which was part of the former Czechoslovakia.

The Drexlmaier surname can also be found amongst the many German and German-American immigrants who settled in various parts of the United States. During the mid-17th century, the name could be found among families living in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

Today, the Drexlmaier family name is commonly found in Germany and Austria. The large city of Salzburg in Austria even has a “Drexelmaierstraße” named after the surname.

In Germany, the surname can be found in many states, including Bayern, Sachsen-Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, and Rheinland-Pfalz. There are even some parts of the world, such as French Polynesia, where the name has been modernised to Drexlmaier. Although people who share this last name might no longer hail from Germany, they still share a common ancestry.

Variations of the surname Drexlmaier

The surname Drexlmaier is derived from the German term Drechselmayer, which means woodturner or woodworker. Variations of this surname include Drechsel, Drechselmeister, Drexler, Drechsler, Drexler, Drechsler, Drechsner, Drexl, Drechselmair, Drechselmaier, Drexel, Drechselmeyer, Drechselmeister, Drechschel, Drechsel, Drexelmaier, Drechselmaurer, and Drexlmaier.

The surname is found primarily in Germany, with several large branches of the family tree residing in Bavaria and in the Rhineland. The spelling variations, as well as the pronunciation, depend on region. In most cases, the 'c' and 'ch' in 'Drechsel' are pronounced the same in German. The 'a' in 'Drechselmaier' is pronounced as an open 'ah' and the 'e' is long, as in the English word 'heat'.

Most Americans with the surname Drexlmaier can trace their roots back to Bavaria, where the original form of the name was first brought into Germany. The Bavarian pronunciation of 'Drex-el-myer' is sometimes still used today.

Also common in the United States and Europe are the spellings Drexel and Drexelmeyer, sometimes shortened to just Drexel. Drexel is also found in some cases as an Anglo-Saxon surname, having been brought toBritain by German immigrants. It is also thought to be a modern form of the ancient Saxon name 'Draslas'.

The spelling Drechselmaire is also occasionally encountered, particularly in Germany itself. It is often confused with Drexelmaier, due to the similarity in pronunciation.

The surname Drexlmaier is still widely found in German-speaking areas of Europe and in the United States, with many branches existing in both countries.

Famous people with the name Drexlmaier

• Dieter Drexlmaier : Dieter Drexlmaier is the CEO of Drexlmaier Group, a family-owned German car component manufacturer. He has been with the company for over 40 years and has raised it to be one of the most successful tier one partner with premium automotive brands across the world.
• Emil Drexlmaier: Emil Drexlmaier is an Austrian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for German football club VfL Wolfsburg and has made a total of 32 appearances for the team.
• Wilhelm Drexlmaier: Wilhelm Drexlmaier is the former chairman of Drexlmaier Group, taking the helm of the company from his father in 1975. Under Wilhelm, the company spread its roots to many major car brands such as BMW, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi. He retired in 2005 and currently serves as the company’s honorary president.
• Lukas Drexlmaier: Lukas Drexlmaier is a German songwriter and composer. He composed the music for a number of hit songs by German artist Sascha Riot, and provided additional producing for Wolfmother. He also has an extensive portfolio of classical music performances.
• Walter Drexlmaier: Walter Drexlmaier is a former CEO of Drexlmaier Group, succeeding Wilhelm in 2005 and heading the company for 11 years. During his tenure, he focused on expanding the company further into international markets, and increased the number of employees from 10,000 to 25,000. He retired in 2016.

Other surnames

Drexlmayer